# Using Numerical Simulations to Gain Insight into the Structure of Superbubbles

## 1 Introduction

In a recent paper, Basu, Johnstone, & Martin (1999) have modeled the shape and ionization structure of the W4 superbubble (see Normandeau & Basu, these proceedings) using the semianalytic Kompaneets (1960) model for blast wave propagation in a stratified exponential atmosphere. Our motivation in this paper is to compare the simplified Kompaneets model with more sophisticated models for superbubble expansion in a stratified medium. Our study reveals the differences between the various models, but also shows that the more detailed hydrodynamic models face difficulties in properly accounting for the shape of the W4 superbubble. However, the highly collimated W4 superbubble may be fit by numerical models which include a magnetic field with a significant vertical (perpendicular to the Galactic plane) component.

## 2 Comparison of Hydrodynamic Models

We compare three classes of models for superbubble expansion in stratified media. The earliest one is due to Kompaneets (1960), and describes the propagation of a strong shock wave in an exponentially stratified medium. An analytic solution exists for the bubble shape at different times, and the time evolution is obtained by solution of an ordinary differential equation. The thin shell approximation (MacLow & McCray 1988) assumes a geometrically thin shell and determines its motion by direct integration of the momentum equation for various segments of the shell. Finally, numerical simulations (e.g., MacLow, McCray, & Norman 1989) provide the most complete hydrodynamic solutions. We reproduce all three calculations for an adiabatic bubble in an exponential atmosphere. The numerical simulations are performed with the ZEUS-2D code.

Figure 1 compares the shape of the bubble at four different times for the three cases. The solid density contours represent the numerical solution. The Kompaneets model (dash-dotted line) expands most rapidly and assumes a more elongated shape than the other models. Its more rapid evolution means that it has already blown out of the atmosphere in the two lower panels. The thin shell approximation (dashed line) remains close to the inner boundary of the shell of swept-up mass in the numerical solution. The closeness of the thin shell and numerical results occurs since the thin shell model tracks the motion of the swept up mass. The numerical solution is also prone to a Rayleigh-Taylor instability at late times, when the upper shell is accelerating rapidly. We note that the Rayleigh-Taylor instability would be more pronounced if cooling was allowed in the shell (MacLow et al. 1989). An important difference between the models is that the Kompaneets model is more highly collimated before blowout than the other two models, since the vertical acceleration is unhindered by inertial effects, and occurs very rapidly.

## 3 Magnetohydrodynamic Model

Due to the inertial effects mentioned above, the numerical hydrodynamic and thin shell results cannot produce highly collimated bubbles that meet the aspect ratio of the W4 superbubble, even though the less realistic Kompaneets model can do so. From H$`\alpha `$ observations of the ionized shell (Dennison, Topasna, & Simonetti 1997), we measure an aspect ratio $`\frac{z_{\mathrm{top}}}{r_{\mathrm{max}}}3.3`$, where $`z_{\mathrm{top}}`$ is the distance from the star cluster to the top of the bubble, and $`r_{\mathrm{max}}`$ is the maximum half width of the bubble. We have attempted a variety of atmospheric models in the numerical and thin shell models, and find that neither a steeper nor shallower profile than the exponential stratification can explain the high collimation of the W4 superbubble.

We address this issue by carrying out magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. A vertical (along $`z`$) magnetic field provides the necessary external pressure at large heights to confine the bubble to a narrow width. Figure 2 shows the evolution of the bubble in an exponential atmosphere with an initial vertical magnetic field $`B_z=3`$ $`\mu `$G. At the latter time, the aspect ratio of the bubble matches the observed aspect ratio of the H$`\alpha `$ shell.

## 4 Discussion

Although the Kompaneets model can provide a highly collimated bubble that matches the aspect ratio of the W4 superbubble, more realistic hydrodynamic models predict wider bubbles than observed in W4, due to their proper accounting of inertial effects. However, a numerical model which includes a vertical magnetic field of a few $`\mu `$G strength can achieve the required collimation. We believe that such a field can also suppress the potential Rayleigh-Taylor instability in the accelerating upper shell, thereby explaining why the observed H$`\alpha `$ shell of the W4 superbubble does not appear to be breaking up. Although a purely vertical field is an idealization and is not supported by Faraday rotation data, we point out that even an initially horizontal magnetic field can produce a significant vertical component through the action of the Parker instability (e.g., Basu, Mouschovias, & Paleologou 1997). More realistic magnetic field geometries such as these remain to be explored.