Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2002-12-19
Phys.Rev. D67 (2003) 044007
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
48 pages, including 13 figures; version with full resolution Figs at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/~lli/astro-ph/mag_evol.ps
Scientific paper
10.1103/PhysRevD.67.044007
The evolution of magnetic fields frozen to a perfectly conducting plasma fluid around a Kerr black hole is investigated. We focus on the plunging region between the black hole horizon and the marginally stable circular orbit in the equatorial plane. Adopting the kinematic approximation where the dynamical effects of magnetic fields are ignored, we exactly solve Maxwell's equations with the assumptions that the geodesic motion of the fluid is stationary and axisymmetric, the magnetic field has only radial and azimuthal components and depends only on time and radial coordinates. We show that the stationary state of the magnetic field in the plunging region is uniquely determined by the boundary conditions at the marginally stable circular orbit. If the magnetic field at the marginally stable circular orbit is in a stationary state, the magnetic field in the plunging region will quickly settle into a stationary state if it is not so initially, in a time determined by the dynamical time scale. The radial component of the magnetic field at the marginally stable circular orbit is more important than the toroidal component in determining the structure and evolution of the magnetic field in the plunging region. Even if at the marginally stable circular orbit the toroidal component is zero, in the plunging region a toroidal component is quickly generated from the radial component by the shear motion of the fluid. Finally, we show that the dynamical effects of magnetic fields are unimportant in the plunging region if they are negligible on the marginally stable circular orbit. This supports the ``no-torque inner boundary condition'' of thin disks, contrary to the claim in the recent literature.
No associations
LandOfFree
Evolution of Magnetic Fields around a Kerr Black Hole does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Evolution of Magnetic Fields around a Kerr Black Hole, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Evolution of Magnetic Fields around a Kerr Black Hole will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-724355