Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-07-16
Astrophys.J.604:766-774,2004
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
16 pages, 7 figures; extended parameter searches, changes in discussion; accepted for publication in ApJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/381967
The inner region of the accretion disk around a magnetized star (T Tauri star, white dwarf or neutron star) is subjected to magnetic torques that induce warping and precession of the disk. These torques arise from the interaction between the stellar field and the induced electric currents in the disk. We carry out numerical simulations of the nonlinear evolution of warped, viscous accretion disks driven by the magnetic torques. We show that the disk can develop into a highly warped steady state in which the disk attains a fixed (warped) shape and precesses rigidly. The warp is most pronounced at the disk inner radius (near the magnetosphere boundary). As the system parameters (such as accretion rate) change, the disk can switch between a completely flat state (warping stable) and a highly warped state. The precession of warped disks may be responsible for a variety of quasi-periodic oscillations or radiation flux variabilities observed in many different systems, including young stellar objects and X-ray binaries.
Lai Dong
Pfeiffer Harald P.
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