Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-04-30
Astrophys.J. 592 (2003) 1156-1172
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
44 pages, 1 figure, accepted by ApJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/375797
We consider rotating magnetic stars with winds and disks. We establish a theorem that relates the angular velocity of a disk region with no meridional motion to the angular velocity of the star. Also, we show that for a given value of the magnetic field strength, if the rotation rate is too high or the flow velocity into the shock boundary is too low, a Keplerian disk region will not be formed. We develop a model for the formation of disks in magnetic rotators through the processes of fill-up and diffusion into Keplerian orbits. At the end of the fill-up stage the density of the disk increases significantly and the magnetic force in the disk becomes negligible. We derive analytical expressions for the inner and outer radii of Keplerian disks in terms of the stellar rotation rate. A disk can form if the meridional component Bm of the field at the stellar surface is larger than a minimum value. The radial extent of the Keplerian region becomes larger for larger values of Bm and is largest when Bm equals an optimal value. The strengths of the minimum fields required for Keplerian disk formation in B-type stars varies from order 1G to 10G. In O-type stars they must be of order 500G. Also, we suggest that the stellar magnetic fields may be affected by rotationally driven meridional circulation leading to some of the the observed variations of disks with time.
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