3D MHD Simulations of Accretion Disks and Coronae

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

We use time-dependent numerical MHD simulations to investigate a number of problems related to the evolution of the interaction region between the inner edge of an accretion disk and the magnetosphere of the central object. In our first study, we perform 2D simulations of a disk threaded by a dipolar stellar field. When stellar rotation is slow, polar accretion occurs periodically via major reconnection events in the magnetosphere. However, we find polar accretion can occur regardless of the stellar rotation rate when strong global disk fields combine with the stellar field to create a favorable net field topology. In our next study, we use 3D, local MHD simulations to study the formation of a corona above an initially weakly magnetized, isothermal accretion disk. We find that MHD turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) produces strong amplification of weak fields within two scale heights of the disk midplane in a few orbital times. About 25% of the magnetic energy generated by the MRI within two scale heights (Hz) escapes due to buoyancy, producing a strongly magnetized corona above the disk. Most of the buoyantly rising magnetic energy is dissipated between 3 and 5 Hz, suggesting the corona will be hot: 104 K for protostellar disks, and 108 K for disks around neutron stars. On long timescales the average vertical disk structure consists of a weakly magnetized (β 50) turbulent core, and a strongly magnetized (β ≲ 10-1) corona which is stable to the MRI. The largescale field structure in both the disk and the coronal regions is predominately toroidal. The functional form of the stress with vertical height is flat within +/- 2Hz, but proportional to the density above +/- 2Hz. Finally, we perform 3D, global simulations of the evolution of optically thin, geometrically thick disks. We investigate the viability of convection as an angular momentum transport mechanism, and examine the evolution when weak magnetic fields are present.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

3D MHD Simulations of Accretion Disks and Coronae 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 3D MHD Simulations of Accretion Disks and Coronae, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and 3D MHD Simulations of Accretion Disks and Coronae will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1746015

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.