No Arabic abstract
We have performed three-dimensional numerical simulations of accretion discs in a close binary system using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics method. Our result show that, contrary to previous claims, 3D discs do exist even when the specific heat ratio of the gas is as large as gamma=1.2. Although the disc is clearly more spread in the z-direction in this case than it is for the quasi-isothermal one, the disc height is compatible with the hydrostatic balance equation. Our numerical simulations with gamma=1.2 also demonstrate that spiral shocks exist in 3D discs. These results therefore confirm previous 2D simulations.
Spiral density waves are known to exist in many astrophysical disks, potentially affecting disk structure and evolution. We conduct a numerical study of the effects produced by a density wave, evolving into a shock, on the characteristics of the underlying disk. We measure the deposition of angular momentum in the disk by spiral shocks of different strength and verify the analytical prediction of Rafikov (2016) for the behavior of this quantity, using shock amplitude (which is potentially observable) as the input variable. Good agreement between the theory and numerics is found as we vary shock amplitude (including highly nonlinear shocks), disk aspect ratio, equation of state, radial profiles of the background density and temperature, and pattern speed of the wave. We show that high numerical resolution is required to properly capture shock-driven transport, especially at low wave amplitudes. We also demonstrate that relating local mass accretion rate to shock dissipation in rapidly evolving disks requires accounting for the time-dependent contribution to the angular momentum budget, caused by the time dependence of the radial pressure support. We provide a simple analytical prescription for the behavior of this contribution and demonstrate its excellent agreement with the simulation results. Using these findings we formulate a theoretical framework for studying one-dimensional (in radius) evolution of the shock-mediated accretion disks, which can be applied to a variety of astrophysical systems.
We numerically investigate the dynamics of a 2D non-magnetised protoplanetary disc surrounded by an inflow coming from an external envelope. We find that the accretion shock between the disc and the inflow is unstable, leading to the generation of large-amplitude spiral density waves. These spiral waves propagate over long distances, down to radii at least ten times smaller than the accretion shock radius. We measure spiral-driven outward angular momentum transport with 1e-4 < alpha < 1e-2 for an inflow accretion rate Mout>1e-8 Msun/yr. We conclude that the interaction of the disc with its envelope leads to long-lived spiral density waves and radial angular momentum transport with rates that cannot be neglected in young non-magnetised protostellar discs.
Large-scale, dust-trapping vortices may account for observations of asymmetric protoplanetary discs. Disc vortices are also potential sites for accelerated planetesimal formation by concentrating dust grains. However, in 3D discs vortices are subject to destructive `elliptic instabilities, which reduces their viability as dust traps. The survival of vortices in 3D accretion discs is thus an important issue to address. In this work, we perform shearing box simulations to show that disc self-gravity enhances the survival of 3D vortices, even when self-gravity is weak in the classic sense (e.g. with a Toomre $Qsimeq5$). We find a 3D, self-gravitating vortex can grow on secular timescales in spite of the elliptic instability. The vortex aspect-ratio decreases as it strengthens, which feeds the elliptic instability. The result is a 3D vortex with a turbulent core that persists for $sim 10^{3}$ orbits. We find when gravitational and hydrodynamic stresses become comparable, the vortex may undergo episodic bursts, which we interpret as interaction between elliptic and gravitational instabilities. We estimate the distribution of dust particles in self-gravitating, turbulent vortices. Our results suggest large-scale vortices in protoplanetary discs are more easily observed at large radii.
Accretion discs are ubiquitous in the universe and it is a crucial issue to understand how angular momentum and mass are being radially transported in these objects. Here, we study the role played by non-linear spiral patterns within hydrodynamical and non self-gravitating accretion disc assuming that external disturbances such as infall onto the disc may trigger them. To do so, we computed self-similar solutions that describe discs in which a spiral wave propagates. Such solutions present both shocks and critical sonic points that we carefully analyze. For all allowed temperatures and for several spiral shocks, we calculated the wave structure. In particular we inferred the angle of the spiral patern, the stress it exerts on the disc as well as the associated flux of mass and angular momentum as a function of temperature. We quantified the rate of angular momentum transport by means of the dimensionless $alpha$ parameter. For the thickest disc we considered (corresponding to $h/r$ values of about 1/3), we found values of $alpha$ as high as $0.1$, and scaling with the temperature $T$ such that $alpha propto T^{3/2} propto (h/r)^3$. The spiral angle scales with the temperature as $arctan(r/h)$. The existence of these solutions suggests that perturbations occurring at disc outer boundaries, such as for example perturbations due to infall motions, can propagate deep inside the disc and therefore should not be ignored, even when considering small radii.
Understanding how accretion proceeds in proto-planetary discs and more generally their dynamics is a crucial issue for explaining the conditions in which planets form. The role that accretion of gas from the surrounding molecular cloud onto the disc may have on its structure needs to be quantified. We perform tri-dimensional simulations using the Cartesian AMR code RAMSES of an accretion disc subject to infalling material. For the aspect ratio of $H/R simeq 0.15$ and disk mass $M_d simeq 10^{-2}$ M$_odot$ used in our study, we find that for typical accretion rates on the order of a few 10$^{-7}$ M$_odot$ yr$^{-1}$, values of the $alpha$ parameter as high as a few 10$^{-3}$ are inferred. The mass that is accreted in the inner part of the disc is typically at least $50%$ of the total mass that has been accreted onto the disc. Our results suggest that external accretion of gas at moderate values, onto circumstellar discs may trigger prominent spiral arms, reminiscent of recent observations made with various instruments, and lead to significant transport through the disc. If confirmed from observational studies, such accretion may therefore influence disc evolution.