Paper detail

Modelling stellar jets with magnetospheres using as initial states analytical MHD solutions

In this paper we focus on the construction of stellar outflow models emerging from a polar coronal hole-type region surrounded by a magnetosphere in the equatorial regions during phases of quiescent accretion. The models are based on initial analytical solutions. We adopt a meridionally self-similar solution of the time-independent and axisymmetric MHD equations which describes effectively a jet originating from the corona of a star. We modify appropriately this solution in order to incorporate a physically consistent stellar magnetosphere. We find that the closed fieldline region may exhibit different behaviour depending on the associated boundary conditions and the distribution of the heat flux. However, the stellar jet in all final equilibrium states is very similar to the analytical one prescribed in the initial conditions. When the initial net heat flux is maintained, the magnetosphere takes the form of a dynamical helmet streamer with a quasi steady state slow magnetospheric wind. With no heat flux, a small dead zone forms around the equator, surrounded by a weak streamer, source of a low mass flux magnetospheric ejection. An equilibrium with no streamer and a helmet shaped dead zone is found when the coronal hole is larger and extends up to a reduced closed fieldline static zone. The study demonstrates the robustness of self-similar solutions and their ability to provide quasi-steady jet simulations with realistic boundaries and surrounded by equatorial magnetospheres.