Simulated cork density in a ring surrounding the outflow center (11 Mm < r < 18 Mm, as shown in Fig. 12) as a function of azimuthal angle, ψ. Results are shown for nine separate simulation runs with different combinations of η and t_life parameter values (see Table A.2). The angle ψ = 0 points west. All results are at reference time (Δt = 0), after subtraction of the mean over the image. We show the observed magnetic field in all three panels for reference.