Simulations of Supersonic Astrophysical Jets and Their Environments Using Level Set Methods

Computational fluid dynamics simulations using the WENO method and level set method are applied to high Mach number nonrelativistic astrophysical jets, including the effects of radiative cooling. WENO methods introduced in Liu et al. (J. Comput. Phys., 115:200–212, 1994) have allowed us to simulate HH 1-2 astrophysical jets at Mach number much higher than Mach 80 (Ha et al. in J. Sci. Comput. 24:29–44, 2005). Simulations at high Mach numbers and with radiative cooling are essential for achieving detailed agreement with the astrophysical images. Simulations of interaction between astrophysical jet and environment using level set methods are considered in this paper.