Broken discs: warp propagation in accretion discs

Details Broken discs: warp propagation in accretion discs Broken discs: warp propagation in accretion discs

2012-01-05

arxiv.org/abs/1201.1297v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

8 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Scientific paper

We simulate the viscous evolution of an accretion disc around a spinning black hole. In general any such disc is misaligned, and warped by the Lense-Thirring effect. Unlike previous studies we use effective viscosities constrained to be consistent with the internal fluid dynamics of the disc. We find that nonlinear fluid effects, which reduce the effective viscosities in warped regions, can promote the breaking of the disc into two distinct planes. This occurs when the Shakura & Sunyaev dimensionless viscosity parameter alpha is <~ 0.3 and the initial angle of misalignment between the disc and hole is >~ 45 degrees. The break can be a long-lived feature, propagating outwards in the disc on the usual alignment timescale, after which the disc is fully co- or counter-aligned with the hole. Such a break in the disc may be significant in systems where we know the inclination of the outer accretion disc to the line of sight, such as some X-ray binaries: the inner disc, and so any jets, may be noticeably misaligned with respect to the orbital plane.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Broken discs: warp propagation in accretion discs 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 Broken discs: warp propagation in accretion discs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Broken discs: warp propagation in accretion discs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-661188