Instability of relativistic shock waves: Numerical study on the basis of model equation of state

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series Vol. 1147; no. 1; pp. 12024 - 12036
• Main Authors: Konyukhov, A V, Likhachev, A P, Levashov, P R, Iosilevskiy, I L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Compression waves; Discontinuity; Equations of state; Longitudinal waves; Lorentz factor; Mach number; Relativistic effects; Representations; Segments; Shock waves; Stability; Transverse waves
• ISSN: 1742-6588; 1742-6596
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1147/1/012024

The behavior of unstable relativistic shock waves is studied with the use of specially developed model equation of state (EOS). The EOS admits the Taub-Hugoniot adiabats with segments on which the criteria of the relativistic shock wave stability are violated. The instability segments are overlapped by the regions with ambiguous representation of the shock-wave discontinuity. The simulations are fulfilled for L < − 1 and L > (1 + 2M + v0v1)/(1 − v0v1) instability conditions, where L is relativistic analog of Dyakov parameter, M is post-shock Mach number, v0 and v1 are pre- and post-shock velocities in the shock attached reference frame. Under the condition of ambiguous representation of the shock-wave discontinuity in the former case the splitting of the unstable shock with formation of a composite compression wave with Lorentz factor dependent structure is observed. It is shown that the latter condition leads to two-dimensional non-stationary solutions characterized by presence of strong transverse waves.