Magnetohydrodynamic Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities in astrophysics – I. Relativistic flows–plane boundary layer in vortex sheet approximation

Abstract

In this paper we re-examine some unsolved problems of the linear MHD Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, starting from the analysis of relativistic (and non-relativistic) flows in the approximation of a plane vortex sheet, for the contact layer between the fluids in relative motion. Results are discussed for a range of physical parameters in specific connection with application to models of jets in extragalactic radio sources. Other physical aspects of the instability will be considered in forthcoming papers.