Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2002-09-30
Astrophys.J. 576 (2002) L53-L56
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
3 figures
Scientific paper
10.1086/342780
We describe a three-dimensional, Godunov-type numerical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) method designed for studying disk accretion to a rotating magnetized star in the general case where the star's rotation axis, its magnetic moment, and the normal to the disk all have different directions. The numerical method uses a "cubed sphere" coordinate system which has advantages of Cartesian and spherical coordinate systems but does not have the singular axis ofthe spherical system. The grid is formed by a sequence of concentric spheres of radii $R_j \propto q^j$ with $j=1..N_R$ and $q={\rm const}>1$. The grid on the surface of the sphere consists of six sectors with the grid on each sector topologically equivalent to the equidistant grid on the face of a cube. Simulation results are discussed for the funnel flows (FF) to a star with dipole moment $\rvecmu$ at an angle $\Theta=30^\circ$ to the star's rotation axis ${\bf \Omega}$ which is aligned with the normal to the disk. Two important new 3D features are found in these simulations: (1) The funnel flow to the stellar surface is mainly in two streams which approach the star from opposite directions. (2) In the $x-z$ cross section of the flow containing $\rvecmu$ and ${\bf \Omega}$, the funnel flow often takes the longer of the two possible paths along magnetic field lines to the surface of the star. A subsequent paper will give a detailed description of the method and results on 3D funnel flows at different inclination angles $\Theta$.
Koldoba Alexander V.
Lovelace Richard V. E.
Romanova Marina M.
Ustyugova Galina V.
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