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Hybrid magnetic structures around spinning black holes connected to a surrounding accretion disk.

Authors :
El Mellah I
Cerutti B
Crinquand B
Parfrey K
Source :
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. International Astronomical Union [Proc Int Astron Union] 2023 Jan 23; Vol. 16 (Suppl 362), pp. 184-189.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

The hot accretion flow around Kerr black holes is strongly magnetized. Magnetic field loops sustained by a surrounding accretion disk can close within the event horizon. We performed particle-in-cell simulations in Kerr metric to capture the dynamics of the electromagnetic field and of the ambient collisionless plasma in this coupled configuration. We find that a hybrid magnetic topology develops with a closed magnetosphere co-existing with open field lines threading the horizon reminiscent of the Blandford-Znajek solution. Further in the disk, highly inclined open magnetic field lines can launch a magnetically-driven wind. While the plasma is essentially force-free, a current sheet forms above the disk where magnetic reconnection produces macroscopic plasmoids and accelerates particles up to relativistic Lorentz factors. A highly dynamic Y-point forms on the furthest closed magnetic field line, with episodic reconnection events responsible for transient synchrotron emission and coronal heating.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1743-9221
Volume :
16
Issue :
Suppl 362
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. International Astronomical Union
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
36923908
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921322001715