No Arabic abstract
Modeling of the x-ray spectra of the Galactic superluminal jet sources GRS 1915+105 and GRO J1655-40 reveal a three-layered atmospheric structure in the inner region of their accretion disks. Above the cold and optically thick disk of a temperature 0.2-0.5 keV, there is a warm layer with a temperature of 1.0-1.5 keV and an optical depth around 10. Sometimes there is also a much hotter, optically thin corona above the warm layer, with a temperature of 100 keV or higher and an optical depth around unity. The structural similarity between the accretion disks and the solar atmosphere suggest that similar physical processes may be operating in these different systems.
The merger rate of stellar-mass black hole binaries (sBHBs) inferred by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) suggests the need for an efficient source of sBHB formation. Active galactic nucleus (AGN) disks are a promising location for the formation of these sBHBs, as well as binaries of other compact objects, because of powerful torques exerted by the gas disk. These gas torques cause orbiting compact objects to migrate towards regions in the disk where inward and outward torques cancel, known as migration traps. We simulate the migration of stellar mass black holes in an example of a model AGN disk, using an augmented N-body code that includes analytic approximations to migration torques, stochastic gravitational forces exerted by turbulent density fluctuations in the disk, and inclination and eccentricity dampening produced by passages through the gas disk, in addition to the standard gravitational forces between objects. We find that sBHBs form rapidly in our model disk as stellar-mass black holes migrate towards the migration trap. These sBHBs are likely to subsequently merge on short time-scales. The process continues, leading to the build-up of a population of over-massive stellar-mass black holes. The formation of sBHBs in AGN disks could contribute significantly to the sBHB merger rate inferred by LIGO.
We use global three dimensional radiation magneto-hydrodynamical simulations to study accretion disks onto a $5times 10^8M_{odot}$ black hole with accretion rates varying from $sim 250L_{Edd}/c^2$ to $1500 L_{Edd}/c^2$. We form the disks with torus centered at $50-80$ gravitational radii with self-consistent turbulence initially generated by the magneto-rotational instability. We study cases with and without net vertical magnetic flux. The inner regions of all disks have radiation pressure $sim 10^4-10^6$ times the gas pressure. Non-axisymmetric density waves that steepen into spiral shocks form as gas flows towards the black hole. In simulations without net vertical magnetic flux, Reynolds stress generated by the spiral shocks are the dominant mechanism to transfer angular momentum. Maxwell stress from MRI turbulence can be larger than the Reynolds stress only when net vertical magnetic flux is sufficiently large. Outflows are formed with speed $sim 0.1-0.4c$. When the accretion rate is smaller than $sim 500 L_{Edd}/c^2$, outflows start around $10$ gravitational radii and the radiative efficiency is $sim 5%-7%$ with both magnetic field configurations. With accretion rate reaching $1500 L_{Edd}/c^2$, most of the funnel region close to the rotation axis becomes optically thick and the outflow only develops beyond $50$ gravitational radii. The radiative efficiency is reduced to $1%$. We always find the kinetic energy luminosity associated with the outflow is only $sim 15%-30%$ of the radiative luminosity. The mass flux lost in the outflow is $sim 15%-50%$ of the net mass accretion rates. We discuss implications of our simulation results on the observational properties of these disks.
These lectures provide an overview of the theory of accretion disks with application to bright sources containing black holes. I focus on the fundamental physics of these flows, stressing modern developments and outstanding questions wherever possible. After a review of standard Shakura-Sunyaev based models and their problems and uncertainties, I describe the basic principles that determine the overall spectral energy distribution produced by the flow. I then describe the physics of angular momentum transport in black hole accretion disks, stressing the important role of magnetic fields. Finally, I discuss the physics of radiation magnetohydrodynamics and how it might affect the overall flow structure in the innermost regions near the black hole.
We study the progress of the theory of accretion disks around black holes in last twenty five years and explain why advective disks are the best bet in explaining varied stationary and non-stationary observations from black hole candidates. We show also that the recently proposed advection dominated flows are incorrect.
In this paper we first investigate the equatorial circular orbit structure of Kerr black holes with scalar hair (KBHsSH) and highlight their most prominent features which are quite distinct from the exterior region of ordinary bald Kerr black holes, i.e. peculiarities that arise from the combined bound system of a hole with an off-center, self-gravitating distribution of scalar matter. Some of these traits are incompatible with the thin disk approach, thus we identify and map out various regions in the parameter space respectively. All the solutions for which the stable circular orbital velocity (and angular momentum) curve is continuous are used for building thin and optically thick disks around them, from which we extract the radiant energy fluxes, luminosities and efficiencies. We compare the results in batches with the same spin parameter $j$ but different normalized charges, and the profiles are richly diverse. Because of the existence of a conserved scalar charge, $Q$, these solutions are non-unique in the $(M, J)$ parameter space. Furthermore, $Q$ cannot be extracted asymptotically from the metric functions. Nevertheless, by constraining the parameters through different observations, the luminosity profile could in turn be used to constrain the Noether charge and characterize the spacetime, should KBHsSH exist.