SIMBAD references

We discuss the circumstances under which the bending of a jet can generate an internal shock wave. The analysis is carried out for relativistic and non-relativistic astrophysical jets. The calculations are carried out by using the method of characteristics for the case of steady simple waves. This generalizes the non-relativistic treatment first used by Icke in 1991. We show that it is possible to obtain an upper limit to the bending angle of a jet in order not to create a shock wave at the end of the curvature. This limiting angle has a value of ∼75° for non-relativistic jets with a polytropic index κ =4/3, ∼135° for non-relativistic jets with κ =5/3 and ∼50° for relativistic jets with κ =5/3. We also discuss under which circumstances jets will form internal shock waves for smaller deflection angles.