Disk accretion onto a magnetized star

An exact solution is found for the interaction of a rotating magnetic field that is frozen into a star with a thin, highly conducting accretion disk. The disk pushes the magnetic-field lines towards the star, compressing the stellar dipole magnetic field. At the corotation radius, where the Keplerian and stellar rotational frequencies are equal, a current loop appears. Electric currents flow in the magnetosphere only along two particular magnetic surfaces, which connect the corotation region and the inner edge of the disk with the stellar surface. It is shown that a closed current surface encloses the magnetosphere. The disk rotation is stopped at some distance from the stellar surface, equal to 0.55 of the corotation radius. The accretion from the disk spins up the stellar rotation. The angular momentum transferred to the star is determined.     

The development of large-scale instability in stellar accretion disks and its influence on the redistribution of angular momentum

The paper continues our studies of large-scale instability arising during shearmotions in stellar accretion disks due to the development of small perturbations. The evolution of a local perturbation introduced into the outer part of a stationary accretion disk is modeled mathematically. The possible formation of large-scale structures that propagate throughout the disk, leading to an appreciable redistribution of angular momentum, is demonstrated.     

The influence of the inclination of the accretor’s magnetic axis on the accretion-disk structure in intermediate polars

Typical changes of the accretion-disk structures in intermediate polars are studied as a function of the inclination of the accretor’s magnetic field. Thre-dimensional numerical modeling was performed for seven differentmagnetic-axis inclinations. The results showthat the system forms a magnetosphere region, and that column accretion occurs. The action of the magnetic field tilts the inner parts of the disk along the magnetic axis of the accretor. The magnetic-field inclination appreciably influences matter transfer in the disk and accretion processes. Generation of toroidal magnetic field, magnetic braking, and alignment of the dipole magnetic field result in oscillations of the accretion rate. A direct relationship between the field inclination and the oscillation amplitude is found, as well as an inverse relationship between the field inclination and the oscillation period.     

The impact of large-scale turbulence on the redistribution of angular momentum in stellar accretion disks

We consider the origin and development of large-scale turbulence in a shear flow in a stellar accretion disk. The ratio of the kinetic energy of vortices originating in the turbulent flow and the total initial kinetic energy of the rotating disk is essentially constant. The large-scale structures that form are able to redistribute the angular momentum without any appreciable heating of the matter.     

Models of astrophysical decretion-accretion diffusional disks

The formation of gaseous diffusional accretion-decretion disks is an important stage in the evolution of numerous astronomical objects. Matter is accreted onto the object in the accretion part of these disks, while the angular momentum of the accreted matter is transported from the central region to the periphery in the decretion part. Here, we consider general questions connected with the formation and evolution of diffusive accretion-decretion disks in various astrophysical objects. Such disks can be described using nonstationary diffusion models. The phenomenological parameters of these models are the coefficients in the relations for the characteristic turbulent velocity and mean free path of diffusion elements in the disk. We have developed a numerical technique to compute the disk evolution for a number of models (a massive disk, a disk with continuous accretion, a purely decretion disk). Analytical expressions estimating the basic parameters of accretion-decretion disks are presented. We discuss the relationship between the models considered and the classical α model of an accretion disk.     

Magnetic-field structure in the accretion disks of semi-detached binary systems

The results of three-dimensional MHD numerical simulations are used to investigate the characteristic properties of the magnetic-field structures in the accretion disks of semi-detached binary systems. It is assumed that the intrinsic magnetic field of the accretor star is dipolar. Turbulent diffusion of the magnetic field in the disk is taken into account. The SS Cyg system is considered as an example. The results of the numerical simulations show the intense generation of a predominantly toroidal magnetic field in the accretion disk. Magnetic zones with well defined structures for the toroidal magnetic field form in the disk, which are separated by current sheets in which there ismagnetic reconnection and current dissipation. Possible observational manifestations of such structures are discussed. It is shown that the interaction of a spiral precessional wave with the accretor’s magnetosphere could lead to quasi-periodic oscillations of the accretion rate.     

X-ray bright points on the Sun

The possibility of forming X-ray bright points through local plasma heating near singular lines of the magnetic-field is considered. Reconnection is a plausible heating mechanism. Conductive heat losses should be impeded by the trap configuration of the magnetic field, which increases toward the periphery.     

Correlations between the development of a flare in the Blazar 3C 454.3 in the radio and optical

Radio and optical data are used to analyze the development of the flare in the blazar 3C 454.3 observed in 2004–2007. A detailed correspondance between the optical and radio flares is established, with a time delay that depends on the observing frequency. The variation of the delay of the radio flare relative to the optical flare is opposite to the dispersion delay expected for the propagation of radiation in the interstellar medium, testifying to an intrinsic origin for the observed outburst. Small-scale flux variations on time intervals of 5–10 days in the millimeter and optical are also correlated, with a time delay of about ten months. This may provide evidence for a single source generating the radiation at all wavelengths. Rapid flux fluctuations in the radio and optical that are correlated with the indicated time delays could be associated with inhomogeneities in the accretion disk. Detailed studies of the flux variations of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) can be used to analyze the structure of the accretion disk. A model for the energy release in AGN that is not associated purely with accretion onto supermassive black holes is proposed. As is the case for other active members of the AGN family, estimates of the lifetime of the binary black-hole system in 3C 454.3 suggest that this object is in a stage of its evolution that is fairly close to the coalescence of its black holes. The energy that is released as the companion of the central black hole loses orbital angular momentum is sufficient to explain the observed AGN phenomena. The source of primary energy release could be heating of the gas behind shock fronts that arise due to the friction between the companion black hole and the ambient gaseous medium. The orbit of the companion could be located at the periphery of the accretion disk of the central body at its apocenter and plunge more deeply into the accretion disk at its pericenter, inducing flares at all wavelengths. Energy-release parameters such as the temperature and density of the heated gas are estimated for 3C 454.3. The model considered assumes omnidirectional radiation of the medium in the presence of a magnetic field. The radiation corresponding to the minimum flux level (base level) could represent omnidirectional radiation due to the orbit of the moving companion. The fraction of the energy that is transferred to directed jets is small, comprising 1–2% of the total energy released due to the loss of orbital angular momentum by the companion.     

Mathematical modeling of the structure of an accretion disk in a stellar binary system

Numerical simulations of gas-dynamical processes taking place in the accretion disk of a stellar binary system are presented. The initial state of the disk is an equilibrium gaseous configuration. Mechanisms for the development of spiral waves and associated variations in the angular momentum of the gas are considered. The influence of the ratio of the binary-component masses and the initial disk configuration are investigated. It is concluded that the existence of a steady-state disk is impossible without a flow of gas from the donor star.     

The development of large-scale instability in Keplerian stellar accretion disks

Our previous studies of large-scale vortical flows arising in shear flows of stellar accretion disks with Keplerian azimuthal velocity distributions as a result of the development of small perturbations are continued. The development of large-scale instability in an accretion disk is investigated via mathematical modeling. One result obtained is the change of the disk flow structure due to the formation of large vortices. In the limiting case, sufficiently long evolution leads to the formation of several asymmetric spiral structures of the flow of disk matter. The presence of large-scale structures leads to angular-momentum redistribution in the disk.     

An induction accelerator of cosmic rays on the axis of an accretion disk

The structure and magnitude of the electric field created by a rotating accretion disk with a poloidal magnetic field is found for the case of a vacuum approximation along the axis. The accretion disk is modeled as a torus filled with plasma and a frozen-in magnetic field. The dimensions and location of the maximum electric field as well as the energy of the accelerated particles are found. The gravitational field is assumed to be weak.     

Formation and evolution of inclined accretion disks in intermediate polars

The results of 3D modeling of the formation of the accretion disks of intermediate polars are presented. A model with misaligned rotation axes of accretor and the orbit is onsidered, in which it is assumed that the white dwarf has a dipolar magnetic field with its symmetry axis inclined to the whitedwarf rotation and orbital axes. The computations show that, in the early stages of formation of the disk, the action of magnetic field is able to create the initial (seed) inclination of the disk. This inclination is then supported mainly by the dynamical pressure of the flow from the inner Lagrangian point L₁. As themass of the disk increases, the inclination disappears. Under certain conditions, the disk inclination does not arise in systems with misaligned white-dwarf rotation and orbital axes. The influence of the magnetic field and asynchronous rotation of the accretor may result in the formation of spiral waves in the disk with amplitudes sufficient to be detected observationally.     

Formation of planets during the evolution of single and binary stars

Current views of the origin and evolution of single and binary stars suggest that the planets can form aroundmain-sequence single and binary stars, degenerate dwarfs, neutron stars, and stellarmass black holes according to several scenarios. Planets can arise during the formation of a star mainly due to excess angular momentum leading to the formation of an accretion-decretion disk of gas and dust around a single star or the components of a binary. It is the evolution of such disks that gives rise to planetary systems. A disk can arise around a star during its evolution due to the accretion of matter from dense interstellar clouds of gas and dust onto the star, the accretion of mass froma companion in a binary system, and the loss of matter during the contraction of a rapidly rotating star, in particular, if the star rotates as a rigid body and the rotation accelerates with its evolution along the main sequence. The fraction of stars with planetary systems is theoretically estimated as 30–40%, which is close to the current observational estimate of ∼34%.     

Formation of the Moon and the Earth from a common supraplanetary gas-dust cloud (lecture presented at the XIX all-Russia symposium on isotope geochemistry on November 16, 2010)

A hypothesis is proposed on the formation of the Earth and the Moon from a large-scale gas-dust cloud, the size of which is limited by the Hill radius, i.e., approximately one million kilometers. The compression of the supraplanetary gas-dust cloud resulted in an adiabatic temperature increase in its interior parts and evaporation of volatiles, including iron, from the surface of particles. At a certain stage, within 50–70 Ma after solar system formation, the supraplanetary gas-dust disk was fragmented, the Moon was separated, and the Earth embryo was formed. The remaining part of the gas-dust material was accreted mainly to the Earth. During this process, the gas dominated by primordial hydrogen was squeezed out of the disk. Vapor was removed together with hydrogen from the interparticle space. The hydrodynamic lifting resulted in the loss of volatiles, including Rb, Xe, and Pb, which is reflected in the Rb-Sr, Xe-I-Pu, and U-Pb isotopic systems. The gas-dust accretion was accomplished within 110–130 Ma (most likely, ∼120 Ma) after the beginning of solar system formation. Since then, the hydrodynamic lifting and volatile loss have ceased, and the history of the Earth as a condensed body has started.     

Hall instability in protostellar disks

Non-axial perturbations of a protostellar disk possessing vertical and azimuthal magnetic-field components are studied in the framework of Hall magnetohydrodynamics. The convective transport of the magnetic field by the Hall current leads to instability of fluctuations within a limited interval of wave numbers. The fundamental possibility of the existence of Hall instability in a medium that does not contain an inhomogeneous density distribution, which has not been discussed earlier, is demonstrated. The dependence of the instability increment on both the plasma parameter ?? and the degree of ionization of the protostellar material are analyzed. Possible consequences for weakly ionized astrophysical disks are discussed.     

The spin-down mechanism of the X-ray pulsar 4U 2206+54

Observations of the X-ray pulsar 4U 2206+54 obtrained over 15 years show that its period, which is now 5555 ± 9 s, is increasing dramatically. This behavior is difficult to explain using traditional scenarios for the spin evolution of compact stars. The observed spin-down rate of the neutron star in 4U 2206+54 is in good agreement with the value expected in a magnetic-accretion scenario, taking into account that, under certain conditions, the magnetic field of the accretion stream can affect the geometry and type of flow. The neutron star in this case accretes material from a dense gaseous slab with small angular momentum, which is kept in equilibrium by the magnetic field of the flow itself. A magnetic-accretion scenario can be realized in 4U 2206+54 if the magnetic-field strength at the surface of the optical counterpart to the neutron star is higher than 70 G. The magnetic field at the surface of the neutron star is 4 × 10¹² G in this scenario, in agreement with estimates based on an analysis of X-ray spectra of the pulsar.     

Determination of the Spins of Supermassive Black Holes in FR I and FR II Radio Galaxies

The spins of supermassive black holes in FR I and FR II radio galaxies are estimated using two models for the generation of the relativisitic jets, based on the Blandford–Znajek and Blandford–Payne mechanisms: the hybrid model of Meier and a flux-trapping model. The magnetic field at the event horizon is estimated assuming equipartition between the energy densities of the magnetic field and the accreting material. The magnetic field near the inner edge of the accretion disk is estimated assuming equipartition between the magnetic pressure and the radiation pressure, and also assuming proportionality between the magnetic field and the spin. In the case of FR I objects, both mechanisms for the generation of the jets (the hybrid model of Meier and a flux-trapping model) are efficient. For the FR II objects, equipartition between the energy densities of the magnetic field and the accretion flow facilitates stronger retrograde rotation of the supermassive black hole. Plots of spin versus mass suggest a predominantly chaotic character for the accretion in both types of radio galaxies.     

Different magneto-rotational supernovae

We present the results of two-dimensional calculations of a magneto-rotational (MR) supernova explosion with a collapsing core for various core masses, rotational angular momenta, and magnetic-field configurations. It is shown that the MR mechanism produces an explosion energy that corresponds to observed values. The form of the explosion depends substantially on the initial configuration of the magnetic field. MR instability develops during the evolution of the magnetic field in an MR supernova explosion, resulting in an exponential increase of all components of the magnetic field, thereby substantially decreasing the time scale of the MR explosion. The energy of the supernova increases with the core’s mass and initial rotational energy.     

Full 3D MHD calculations of accretion flow structure in magnetic cataclysmic variables with strong,complex magnetic fields

We have performed three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical calculations of stream accretion in cataclysmic variable stars for which the white dwarf primary possesses a strong, complex magnetic field. These calculations were motivated by observations of polars: cataclysmic variables containing white dwarfs with magnetic fields sufficiently strong to prevent the formation of an accretion disk. In this case, an accretion stream flows from the L1 point and impacts directly onto one or more spots on the surface of the white dwarf. Observations indicate that the white dwarfs in some binaries possess complex (non-dipolar) magnetic fields. We performed simulations of ten polars, with the only variable being the azimuthal angle of the secondary with respect to the white dwarf. These calculations are also applicable to asynchronous polars, where the spin period of the white dwarf differs by a few percent from the orbital period. Our results are equivalent to calculating the structure of one asynchronous polar at ten different spin-orbit beat phases. Our models have an aligned dipolar plus quadrupolar magnetic field centered on the whitedwarf primary. We find that, with a sufficiently strong quadrupolar component, an accretion spot arises near the magnetic equator for slightly less than half our simulations, while a polar accretion zone is active for most of the remaining simulations. For two configurations, accretion at a dominant polar region and in an equatorial zone occurs simultaneously. Most polar studies assume that the magnetic field is dipolar, especially for single-pole accretors. We demonstrate that, with the orbital parameters and magnetic-field strengths typical of polars, the accretion flow patterns can vary widely in the case of a complex magnetic field. This may make it difficult formany polars to determine observationally whether the field is pure dipolar or is more complex, but there shoulid be indications for some systems. In particular, a complex magnetic field should be suspected if there is an accretion zone near the white dwarf’s equator (assumed to be in the orbital plane) or if there are two or more accretion regions that cannot be fitted by dipolar magnetic field. Magnetic-field constraints are expected to be substantially stronger for asynchronous polars, with clearer signs of complex field geometry due to changes in the accretion flow structure as a function of azimuthal angle. These indications become clearer in asynchronous polars because each azimuthal angle corresponds to a different spin-orbit beat phase.     

A dipolar vortex model for the obscuring tori in active galactic nuclei

Motivated by currently available direct observations of occulting tori in Seyfert galaxies and ongoing discussions about tori as important structural components in Active Galactic Nuclei, we discuss the possibility that the “spinning up” of a torus by radiation or winds could transform it into a dipolar toroidal vortex. The vortex motion balances the torus’ self-gravitation, and can explain the existence of cool, thick tori inferred from observations. In turn, the toroidal vortex can be a source of matter to feed the accretion disk. The resulting instability could result in flares accompanied by the ejection of matter. Our numerical estimates of the model parameters for luminosities close to the Eddington limit are consistent with the observational data.