Search

We carry out idealized three-dimensional general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations of prograde, weakly magnetized, and geometrically thick accretion flows where the gas distribution is misaligned from the black hole spin axis. We evolve the disk for three black hole spins: $a = 0.5, 0.75$, and $0.9375$, and we contrast them with a standard aligned disk simulation with $a = 0.9375$. The tilted disks achieve a warped and twisted steady-state structure, with the outer disk misaligning further away from the black hole and surpassing the initial $24^\circ$ misalignment. However, closer to the black hole, there is evidence of partial alignment, as the inclination angle decreases with radius in this regime. Standing shocks also emerged in proximity to the black hole, roughly at $\sim$ 6 gravitational radii. We show that these shocks act to partially align the inner disk with the black hole spin. The rate of alignment increases with increasing black hole spin magnitude, but in all cases is insufficient to fully align the gas before it accretes. Additionally, we present a toy model of orbit crowding that can predict the location of the shocks in moderate-to-fast rotating black holes, illustrating a potential physical origin for the behavior seen in simulations\textemdash with possible applications in determining the positions of shocks in real misaligned astrophysical systems., Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, 1 Table and accepted for publication in ApJ

We carry out a test of the radial acceleration relation (RAR) for galaxy clusters from two different catalogs compiled in literature, as an independent cross-check of two recent analyses, which reached opposite conclusions. The datasets we considered include a Chandra sample of 12 clusters and the X-COP sample of 12 clusters. For both the samples, we find that the residual scatter is small (0.11-0.14 dex), although the best-fit values for the Chandra sample have large error bars. Therefore, we argue that at least one of these cluster samples (X-COP) obeys the radial acceleration relation. However, since the best-fit parameters are discrepant with each other as well as the previous estimates, we argue that the RAR is not universal. For both the catalogs, the acceleration scale, which we obtain is about an order of magnitude larger than that obtained for galaxies, and is agreement with both the recent estimates., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. Computed residual scatter for both the samples. Accepted for publication in Phys. Dark Universe

Although galaxy clusters have proved to be wonderful laboratories for testing a plethora of modified gravity theories and other exotic alternatives to $\Lambda$CDM, until a few years ago, there was only one paper (from 1974), which obtained a limit on graviton mass of $\mathcal{O}(10^{-29})$ eV with clusters. To rectify this, in the last few years multiple works have obtained different bounds on graviton mass using single cluster data as well as stacking galaxy catalogs. We review these recent limits on graviton mass using galaxy clusters obtained using disparate methods., Comment: 4 pages. TAUP 2019 conference proceedings

Motivated by previous studies in literature about the potential importance of relativistic corrections to galaxy cluster hydrostatic masses, we calculate the masses of 12 relaxed clusters (with Chandra X-ray data) using the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equation of hydrostatic equilibrium and the ideal gas equation of state. Analytical formulae for gas density and temperature profiles for these clusters, previously derived by Vikhlinin et al (astro-ph/0507092) were used to obtain these masses. We compare the TOV-based masses with those obtained using the corresponding Newtonian equation of hydrostatic equilibrium. We find that the fractional relative difference between the two masses are negligible, corresponding to $\sim \mathcal{O}(10^{-5})$., Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in Physics of the Dark Universe

We present new limits on the graviton mass using a sample of 12 relaxed galaxy clusters, for which temperature and gas density profiles were derived by Vikhlinin et al (astro-ph/0507092) using Chandra X-ray observations. These limits can be converted to a bound on the graviton mass, assuming a non-zero graviton mass would lead to a Yukawa potential at these scales. For this purpose, we first calculate the total dynamical mass from the hydrostatic equilibrium equation in Yukawa gravity and then compare it with the corresponding mass in Newtonian gravity. We calculate a 90 % c.l. lower/upper limit on the graviton Compton wavelength/ mass for each of the 12 clusters in the sample. The best limit is obtained for Abell 2390, corresponding to $\lambda_g > 3.58\times 10^{19}$ km or $m_g<3.46 \times 10^{-29}$ eV. This is the first proof of principles demonstration of setting a limit on the graviton mass using a sample of related galaxy clusters with X-ray measurements and can be easily applied to upcoming X-ray surveys such as eRosita., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure

In the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in obtaining observational bounds on the graviton mass, following the detection of gravitational waves, because of the versatility of massive graviton theories in resolving multiple problems in cosmology and fundamental physics. In this work, we apply the method proposed in Rana et al.(arXiv:1801.03309), which consists of looking for Yukawa-like fall off in the gravitational potential, to stacked galaxy cluster catalogs from three disparate surveys. These include catalogs from 2500 sq. degree SPT-SZ survey, the Planck all-sky SZ catalog, and a redMaPPer selected catalog from 10,000 sq. degree of SDSS-DR8 data. The 90\% c.l. limits which we obtained on the graviton mass using SPT, Planck and SDSS are: $m_g < 4.73 \times 10^{-30}$ eV, $3.0 \times 10^{-30}$ eV, and $1.27 \times 10^{-30}$ eV respectively; or in terms of Compton wavelength are $\lambda_g >2.62 \times 10^{20}$ km, $4.12 \times 10^{20}$ km, $9.76 \times 10^{20}$ km. These limits are about five times more stringent than the previous best bound from galaxy clusters., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures

This work looks at some definitive signatures of magnetars, in particular of period closures accompanied by a decline of X-ray radiation in two models. We review some of the previous works which are based on the well known dynamo model in which the star is born with a period of a few milliseconds at high temperatures. In such a convection regime the dynamo mechanism can amplify the the magnetic fields to the magnetar value. This is in contrast to a screened core model which posits that a high density phase transition occurs in the inner core of magnetars that dynamically aligns all the neutron magnetic moments producing a large magnetic field in the core. The accompanying change of flux gives rise to shielding or screening currents in the surrounding high conductivity plasma that do not permit the field to exit to the surface. Ambipolar diffusion then transports the field to the crust dissipating energy in neutrinos and X-rays. The up-welling field cleaves the crust resulting in flares and X-ray radiation from ohmic dissipation in the crust till the screening currents are spent and the surface polar field attains its final value. In the dynamo model the polar magnetic field decreases with time whereas in our screened model it increases to its final value. One consequence of this is that in the latter model, as a function of time and period, the ratio of the dipole radiation loss, $\dot E$ to the X-ray luminosity, $ L_X$, is a 'U' curve, indicating that it is the exponential decline in $L_X$, that brings closure to the periods that are observed for magnetars., Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures