Hot accretion discs with thermal Comptonization and advection in luminous black hole sources

We solve for the structure of a hot accretion disc with unsaturated thermal Comptonization of soft photons and with advection, generalizing the classical model of Shapiro et al. The upper limit on the accretion rate due to advection constrains the luminosity to ≲ 0.15 y^3/5 α^7/5 of the Eddington limit, where y and α are the Compton and viscosity parameters, respectively. The characteristic electron temperature and Thomson optical depth of the inner flow at accretion rates within an order of magnitude of that upper limit are ∼ 10⁹ K and ∼ 1, respectively. The resulting spectra are then in close agreement with the X-ray and soft γ-ray spectra from black hole binaries in the hard state and Seyferts. At low accretion rates, bremsstrahlung becomes the dominant radiative process.     

The local stability of accretion disk models with considering the role of various viscosity and cooling mechanisms

The standard thin accretion disk model can explain the soft X-ray spectra of Galactic black hole systems and AGN successfully. However, there are still a few observational documents for Radiation pressure theory in X-ray novae in black hole binary systems and AGN. The luminosity in accretion onto black holes is corresponds to L>0.01L _E . According to standard thin disk model, when the accretion rate is over a small fraction of the Eddington rate, L>0.01L _E , the inner region of the disk is radiation-pressure-dominated and thermally unstable. However, observations of the high/soft state of black hole X-ray binaries with luminosity within (0.01L _E <L<0.5L _E ) show that the disk is quite stable. Thus, this contradiction shows the objection of this model and maybe it is essential to change the standard viscosity law or one of the other basic assumptions in order to get a stable disk models. In this paper, we revisit and recalculate the thermal instability with a different models of viscosity and cooling functions and show that the choosing of an arbitrary cooling and viscosity functions can affect on the stability of a general disk model and hence maybe answer to a this problem in accretion disk theory. We choose an arbitrary functions of surface density Σ and half thickness of disk H for cooling and viscosity. Also, we discuss a general disk with thermal conduction, radial force and advection. Then, we solve the equations numerically. We obtain a fourth degree dispersions relation and discuss solutions and instability modes. This analysis shows the great sensitivity of stability of disk to the form of viscosity, so there are various effective factors to stabilize the disk. For example the exist of advection and thermal conduction can effect to stability of disks also.     

Hot accretion with outflow and thermal conduction

We present self-similar solutions for advection-dominated accretion flows with thermal conduction in the presence of outflows. Possible effects of outflows on the accretion flow are parametrized and a saturated form of thermal conduction, as is appropriate for the weakly-collisional regime of interest, is included in our model. While the cooling effect of outflows is noticeable, thermal conduction provides an extra heating source. In comparison to accretion flows without winds, we show that the disc rotates faster and becomes cooler because of the angular momentum and energy flux which are taking away by the winds. But thermal conduction opposes the effects of winds and not only decreases the rotational velocity, but increases the temperature. However, reduction of the surface density and the enhanced accretion velocity are amplified by both of the winds and the thermal conduction. We find that for stronger outflows, a higher level of saturated thermal conduction is needed to significantly modify the physical profiles of the accretion flow.     

含平流双温吸积盘的振荡不稳定性研究

从流体动力学方程出发,用微扰法得出含平流双温吸积盘的径向、环向不稳定性的色散方程．并对平流和径向粘滞力对双温吸积盘的影响进行了较详细的讨论．结果表明：平流和径向粘滞力对声模有较大的影响,且不改变粘滞模和热模的稳定性质．而环向扰动对吸积盘的各种模有着较明显的作用．这一模型有利于解释活动天体的周期和准周期光变现象．     

Thin accretion disc with a corona in a central magnetic field

We study the steady-state structure of an accretion disc with a corona surrounding a central, rotating, magnetized star. We assume that the magneto-rotational instability is the dominant mechanism of angular momentum transport inside the disc and is responsible for producing magnetic tubes above the disc. In our model, a fraction of the dissipated energy inside the disc is transported to the corona via these magnetic tubes. This energy exchange from the disc to the corona which depends on the disc physical properties is modified because of the magnetic interaction between the stellar magnetic field and the accretion disc. According to our fully analytical solutions for such a system, the existence of a corona not only increases the surface density but reduces the temperature of the accretion disc. Also, the presence of a corona enhances the ratio of gas pressure to the total pressure. Our solutions show that when the strength of the magnetic field of the central neutron star is large or the star is rotating fast enough, profiles of the physical variables of the disc significantly modify due to the existence of a corona.     

Super-Eddington accretion discs around Kerr black holes

We calculate the structure of the accretion disc around a rapidly rotating black hole with a super-Eddington accretion rate. The luminosity and height of the disc are reduced by the advection effect. In the case of large viscosity parameter, α>0.03, the accretion flow deviates strongly from thermodynamic equilibrium and overheats in the central region. With increasing accretion rate, the flow temperature steeply increases, reaches maximum, and then falls off. The maximum is achieved in the advection-dominated regime of accretion. The maximum temperature in the disc around a massive black hole of M =10⁸ M⊙ with α=0.3 is of order 3×10⁸ K. The discs with large accretion rates can emit X-rays in quasars as well as in galactic black hole candidates.     

The standstill luminosity in Z Cam systems

We consider accretion discs in close binary systems. We show that the heating of a disc at the impact point of the accretion stream contributes significantly to the local energy budget at its outer edge. As a result, the thermal balance relation between local accretion rate and surface density (the 'S-curve') changes; the critical mass transfer rate above which no dwarf nova outbursts occur can be up to 40 per cent smaller than without impact heating. Standstills in Z Cam systems thus occur at smaller mass transfer rates than otherwise expected, and are fainter than the peak luminosity during the dwarf nova phase as a result.     

Exploring the spreading layer of GX 9+9 using RXTE and INTEGRAL

We have fitted ∼200 RXTE and INTEGRAL spectra of the neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) GX 9+9 from 2002 to 2007 with a model consisting of a disc blackbody and another blackbody representing the spreading layer (SL), i.e. an extended accretion zone on the NS surface as opposed to the more traditional disc-like boundary layer. Contrary to theory, the SL temperature was seen to increase towards low SL luminosities, while the approximate angular extent had a nearly linear luminosity dependency. Comptonization was not required to adequately fit these spectra. Together with the ∼ 70° upper bound of inclination implied by the lack of eclipses, the best-fitting normalization of the accretion disc blackbody component implies a distance of ∼10 kpc, instead of the usually quoted 5 kpc.     

The influence of magnetic fields on neutrino-dominated accretion disc

We consider the influence of magnetic fields on the model of neutrino-dominated accretion flows (NDAFs) for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) via the assumption that the accretion rate of the disc is totally caused by the torque of the Lorentz force, i.e. the magnetic braking of large-scale magnetic fields and magnetic viscosity of small-scale magnetic fields. We calculate the structure, composition, luminosity of neutrino emission and the Poynting flux, and the rate of mass loss driven by neutrino heating or launched centrifugally by large-scale magnetic fields, based on the physical condition of the magnetized NDAFs. It is shown that the magnetized disc is favourable to interpret the diverse prompt emissions as well as the X-ray flares observed in the early afterglow of GRBs.     

Standing shocks in magnetized dissipative accretion flow around black holes

We explore the global structure of the accretion flow around a Schwarzschild black hole where the accretion disc is threaded by toroidal magnetic fields. The accretion flow is optically thin and advection dominated. The synchrotron radiation is considered to be the active cooling mechanism in the flow. With this, we obtain the global transonic accretion solutions and show that centrifugal barrier in the rotating magnetized accretion flow causes a discontinuous transition of the flow variables in the form of shock waves. The shock properties and the dynamics of the post-shock corona are affected by the flow parameters such as viscosity, cooling rate and strength of the magnetic fields. The shock properties are investigated against these flow parameters. We further show that for a given set of boundary parameters at the outer edge of the disc, accretion flow around a black hole admits shock when the flow parameters are tuned for a considerable range.     

Launching of accretion disc winds along dynamo-generated magnetic fields

The problem of magnetic field generation and advection in accretion discs is considered, in the context of wind launching and angular momentum extraction. A dipole-symmetry solution of the dynamo equations is found, with force-free boundary conditions appropriate for matching to a wind solution. Consideration of the curved field geometry and diffusive nature of the disc enables the position of the sonic point to be calculated and related to the field inclination at the disc surface. A critical inclination of 20° to the horizontal results, for which the sonic point lies in the disc surface and there is no potential barrier to wind launching. Hence the wind mass-loss rate will only become excessive, leading to disc disruption, for large field bending. The compressional effect of the horizontal magnetic field enhances the wind mass flux.     

Cooling of Accretion-Heated Neutron Stars

We present a brief, observational review about the study of the cooling behaviour of accretion-heated neutron stars and the inferences about the neutron-star crust and core that have been obtained from these studies. Accretion of matter during outbursts can heat the crust out of thermal equilibrium with the core and after the accretion episodes are over, the crust will cool down until crust-core equilibrium is restored. We discuss the observed properties of the crust cooling sources and what has been learned about the physics of neutron-star crusts. We also briefly discuss those systems that have been observed long after their outbursts were over, i.e, during times when the crust and core are expected to be in thermal equilibrium. The surface temperature is then a direct probe for the core temperature. By comparing the expected temperatures based on estimates of the accretion history of the targets with the observed ones, the physics of neutron-star cores can be investigated. Finally, we discuss similar studies performed for strongly magnetized neutron stars in which the magnetic field might play an important role in the heating and cooling of the neutron stars.     

Thermal conduction between an accretion disc and a corona in active galactic nuclei: vertical structure of the transition layer

We study the vertical structure of the transition layer between an accretion disc and a corona in the context of the existence of a two-phase medium in thermally unstable regions. The disc is illuminated by hard X-ray radiation, and satisfies the condition of hydrostatic equilibrium. We take into account the energy exchange between the hot, Compton-heated corona (∼10⁸ K) and cool disc (∼10⁴ K) arising from both radiative processes and thermal conduction. In the case including thermal conduction, we perform a local stability analysis, and conclude that thermal conduction does not suppress thermal instability. In spite of the continuous temperature profile T ( τ ) there are regions of strong temperature gradient, in which spontaneous perturbations can lead to cloud condensation in the transition layer. We determine the minimum size λ _TC of such a perturbation.     

A simplified model of ADAF with the jet driven by the large-scale magnetic field

We propose a simplified model of outflow/jet driven by the Blandford–Payne (BP) process from advection-dominated accretion flows (ADAF) and derive the expressions of the BP power and disk luminosity based on the conservation laws of mass, angular momentum and energy. We fit the 2–10 keV luminosity and kinetic power of 15 active galactic nucleus (AGNs) of sub-Eddington luminosity. It is found that there exists an anti-correlation between the accretion rate and the advection parameter, which could be used to explain the correlation between Eddington-scaled kinetic power and bolometric luminosity of the 15 samples. In addition, the Ledlow–Owen relation for FR I/II dichotomy is re-expressed in a parameter space consisting of logarithm of dimensionless accretion rate versus that of the BH mass. It turns out that the FR I/II dichotomy is determined mainly by the dimensionless accretion rate, being insensitive to the BH mass. And the dividing accretion rate is less than the critical accretion rate for ADAFs, suggesting that FR I sources are all in the ADAF state.     

The radial–azimuthal instability of a hot two-temperature accretion disc with advection

The radial–azimuthal instability of a hot two-temperature accretion disc with advection is examined in this paper. We find that the inclusion of very little advection has significant effects on two acoustic modes for a geometrically thin, cooling-dominated two-temperature disc, but has no effect on acoustic modes for a geometrically slim, cooling-dominated two-temperature disc. We also find that, when azimuthal perturbations are considered, the stability properties of the disc are different from those in the pure radial perturbation case. An increase of the azimuthal wavenumber will stabilize the acoustic modes but make the viscous and thermal modes more unstable for a geometrically thin, cooling-dominated two-temperature disc. It makes the thermal mode more unstable and the acoustic mode more stable, but only affects the instability of the viscous mode for short-wavelength perturbations for a geometrically slim, cooling-dominated two-temperature disc. For a geometrically slim, advection-dominated two-temperature disc, the increase of the azimuthal perturbation makes the I- and O-modes more stable and the thermal mode more unstable, but has no effect on the viscous mode.     

Modelling the behaviour of accretion flows in X-ray binaries

We review how the recent increase in X-ray and radio data from black hole and neutron star binaries can be merged together with theoretical advances to give a coherent picture of the physics of the accretion flow in strong gravity. Both long term X-ray light curves, X-ray spectra, the rapid X-ray variability and the radio jet behaviour are consistent with a model where a standard outer accretion disc is truncated at low luminosities, being replaced by a hot, inner flow which also acts as the launching site of the jet. Decreasing the disc truncation radius leads to softer spectra, as well as higher frequencies (including quasi periodic oscillations, QPOs) in the power spectra, and a faster jet. The collapse of the hot flow when the disc reaches the last stable orbit triggers the dramatic decrease in radio flux, as well as giving a qualitative (and often quantitative) explanation for the major hard–soft spectral transition seen in black holes. The neutron stars are also consistent with the same models, but with an additional component due to their surface, giving implicit evidence for the event horizon in black holes. We review claims of observational data which conflict with this picture, but show that these can also be consistent with the truncated disc model. We also review suggested alternative models for the accretion flow which do not involve a truncated disc. The most successful of these converge on a similar geometry, where there is a transition at some radius larger than the last stable orbit between a standard disc and an inner, jet dominated region, with the X-ray source associated with a mildly relativistic outflow, beamed away from the disc. However, the observed uniformity of properties between black holes at different inclinations suggests that even weak beaming of the X-ray emission may be constrained by the data. After collapse of the hot inner flow, the spectrum in black hole systems can be dominated by the disc emission. Its behaviour is consistent with the existence of a last stable orbit, and such data can be used to estimate the black hole spin. By contrast, these systems can also show very different spectra at these high luminosities, in which the disc spectrum (and probably structure) is strongly distorted by Comptonization. The structure of the accretion flow becomes increasingly uncertain as the luminosity approaches (and exceeds) the Eddington luminosity, though there is growing evidence that winds may play an important role. We stress that these high Eddington fraction flows are key to understanding many disparate and currently very active fields such as ULX, Narrow Line Seyfert 1’s, and the growth of the first black holes in the Early Universe.     

Magnetic flares and the optical variability of the X-ray transient XTE J1118+480

The simultaneous presence of a strong quasi-periodic oscillation, of period ∼10 s, in the optical and X-ray light curves of the X-ray transient XTE J1118+480 suggests that a significant fraction of the optical flux originates from the inner part of the accretion flow, where most of the X-rays are produced. We present a model of magnetic flares in an accretion disc corona where thermal cyclo-synchrotron emission contributes significantly to the optical emission, while the X-rays are produced by inverse Compton scattering of the soft photons produced by dissipation in the underlying disc and by the synchrotron process itself. Given the observational constraints, we estimate the values for the coronal temperature, optical depth and magnetic field intensity, as well as the accretion rate for the source. Within our model we predict a correlation between optical and hard X-ray variability and an anticorrelation between optical and soft X-rays. We also expect optical variability on flaring time-scales (∼tens of ms), with a power-density spectrum similar to that observed in the X-ray band. Finally, we use both the available optical/extreme-ultraviolet/X-ray spectral energy distribution and the low-frequency time variability to discuss limits on the inner radius of the optically thick disc.