Observations of the Blandford–Znajek process and the magnetohydrodynamic Penrose process in computer simulations of black hole magnetospheres

In this paper we report the results of axisymmetric relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations for the problem of a Kerr black hole immersed in a rarefied plasma with 'uniform' magnetic field. The long-term solution shows properties that are significantly different from those of the initial transient phase studied recently by Koide. The topology of magnetic field lines within the ergosphere is similar to that of the split-monopole model with a strong current sheet in the equatorial plane. Closer inspection reveals a system of isolated magnetic islands inside the sheet and ongoing magnetic reconnection. No regions of negative hydrodynamic 'energy at infinity' are seen inside the ergosphere and the so-called MHD Penrose process does not operate. However, the rotational energy of the black hole continues to be extracted via the purely electromagnetic Blandford–Znajek mechanism. In spite of this, no strong relativistic outflows from the black hole are seen to be developing. Combined with results of other recent simulations, our results signal a potential problem for the standard MHD model of relativistic astrophysical jets should they be found at distances as small as a few tens of gravitational radii from the central black hole.     

活动星系核的多波段能谱及其发射机制──Ⅱ．红外连续辐射能谱

本文讨论了１６个红外强ＰＧ类星体的红外辐射能谱。我们假设这些活动星系核的红外谱是由非热辐射机制和尘埃的热辐射共同产生的，通过对红外包的最佳拟合，我们发现大多数ＰＧ类星体的红外包位于７一２４μ的中远红外区，尘埃的热辐射机制能很好地产生观测到的红外包。通过模拟能定量地说明尘埃产生的热致辐射在这些天体的红外谱中的相对重要性，在模型与观测值之间的拟合中，我们得到了在这些天体中核加热的尘埃区的大小、尘埃的分布等模型参数。     

Detection of new hydrocarbons in Uranus' atmosphere by infrared spectroscopy

Ethane (C₂H₆), methylacetylene (CH₃C₂H or C₃H₄) and diacetylene (C₄H₂) have been discovered in Spitzer 10-20 μm spectra of Uranus, with 0.1-mbar volume mixing ratios of (1.0±0.1)×¹⁰⁻⁸, (2.5±0.3)×¹⁰⁻¹⁰, and (1.6±0.2)×¹⁰⁻¹⁰, respectively. These hydrocarbons complement previously detected methane (CH₄) and acetylene (C₂H₂). Carbon dioxide (CO₂) was also detected at the 7-σ level with a 0.1-mbar volume mixing ratio of (4±0.5)×¹⁰⁻¹¹. Although the reactions producing hydrocarbons in the atmospheres of giant planets start from radicals, the methyl radical (CH₃) was not found in the spectra, implying much lower abundances than in the atmospheres of Saturn or Neptune where it has been detected. This finding underlines the fact that Uranus' atmosphere occupies a special position among the giant planets, and our results shed light on the chemical reactions happening in the absence of a substantial internal energy source.     

Near-infrared adaptive optics imaging of the satellites and individual rings of Uranus

We present the first Earth-based images of several of the individual faint rings of Uranus, as observed with the adaptive optics system on the W.M. Keck II telescope on four consecutive days in October 2003. We derive reflectivities based on multiple measurements of 8 minor moons of Uranus as well as Ariel and Miranda in filters centered at wavelengths of 1.25(J), 1.63(H), and 2.1(Kp) μm. These observations have a phase angle of 1.84°-1.96°. We find that the small satellites are somewhat less bright than in observations made by the HST at smaller phase angles, confirming an opposition surge effect. We calculate albedoes for the ring groups and for each ring separately. We find that the ε ring particles, as well as the particles in the three other ring groups, have albedoes near 0.043 at these phase angles. The equivalent depths of some of the individual rings are different than predicted based upon ring widths from occultation measurements (assuming a constant particle ring brightness); in particular the γ ring is fainter and the η ring brighter than expected. Our results indicate that q, the ratio of ε ring intensity at apoapse vs. periapse, is close to 3.2±0.16. This agrees well with a model that has a filling factor for the ε ring of 0.06 (Karkoschka, 2001, Icarus 151, 78-83). We also determine values of the north to south brightness ratio for the individual rings and find that in most cases they are close to unity.     

The black hole mass – spheroid luminosity relation

The differing   M _bh– L   relations presented in McLure & Dunlop, Marconi & Hunt and Erwin et al. have been investigated. A number of issues have been identified and addressed in each of these studies, including but not limited to the removal of a dependency on the Hubble constant, a correction for dust attenuation in the bulges of disc galaxies, the identification of lenticular galaxies previously treated as elliptical galaxies and the application of the same ( Y ∣ X ) regression analysis. These adjustments result in relations which now predict similar black hole masses. The optimal K -band relation is  log( M _bh/M_⊙) =−0.37(±0.04)( M _K + 24) + 8.29(±0.08)  , with a total (not intrinsic) scatter in log M _bh equal to 0.33 dex. This level of scatter is similar to the value of 0.34 dex from the     relation of Tremaine et al. and compares favourably with the value of 0.31 dex from the   M _bh– n   relation of Graham & Driver. Using different photometric data, consistent relations in the B and R band are also provided, although we do note that the small  ( N = 13)  R -band sample used by Erwin et al. is found here to have a slope of −0.30 ± 0.06. Performing a symmetrical regression on the larger K -band sample gives a slope of ∼−0.40, implying M _bh∝ L ^1.00. Implications for galaxy–black hole co-evolution, in terms of dry mergers, are briefly discussed, as are the predictions for intermediate mass black holes. Finally, as noted by others, a potential bias in the galaxy sample used to define the   M _bh– L   relations is shown and a corrective formula provided.