Axisymmetric outflows from binary point-source systems in the presence of an interface

Abstract

Fluid outflow is considered, from a binary system of two point sources. The sources inject fluid of a lower density than the surrounding medium, and there is a sharp interface separating the two fluids. The overall geometry is taken to be axisymmetric around the line joining the two sources. Numerical solutions are presented for the shape of the interface in unsteady flow, and compared with a linearized solution based on small deformation of the interface from its initial spherical configuration. In addition, a novel spectral method is developed for the solution of the Boussinesq viscous flow problem, accounting exactly for the presence of the two sources and modelling the interface as a narrow region in which fluid mixing is possible. Bipolar outflow jets are seen to be possible.