Ultra-Relativistic Blast Wave: Stability and Strong Non-Universality

Abstract

Linear eigenmodes of a spherically symmetrical ultra-relativistic blast wave (the Blandford-McKee, BMK, solution) are calculated. The BMK solution is shown to be stable and strongly non-universal. It is stable because all the eigenmodes decay. Non-universality of the BMK solution (BMK is not an intermediate asymptotic) is a consequence of causality. In terms of eigenmodes -- some eigenmodes decay too slowly. For each degree l, there exists an eigenmode which decays at the smallest rate. The amplitude of this eigenmode, defined as relative perturbation of energy behind the shock front, is constant at early time. Later, when the blast wave slows down to Gamma = l/10, an oscillatory decay commences, and the amplitude drops to less than 10% of the initial value at Gamma = l/100. The non-universality is surprisingly strong. Near the end of the ultra-relativistic stage, perturbations with l<200, that is more than 10,000 different harmonics, are suppressed by less than a factor of 10. Spherical symmetry is only reached by the time the blast wave slows down to non-relativistic velocities, when the Sedov/Taylor/von Neumann solution sets in.