Published August 20, 2014 | Version v1
Journal article

Nonlinear dynamics of accretion disks with stochastic viscosity

  • 1. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MD 02138 (United States)
  • 2. Joint Space-Science Institute (JSI), College Park, MD 20742 (United States)

Description

We present a nonlinear numerical model for a geometrically thin accretion disk with the addition of stochastic nonlinear fluctuations in the viscous parameter. These numerical realizations attempt to study the stochastic effects on the disk angular momentum transport. We show that this simple model is capable of reproducing several observed phenomenologies of accretion-driven systems. The most notable of these is the observed linear rms-flux relationship in the disk luminosity. This feature is not formally captured by the linearized disk equations used in previous work. A Fourier analysis of the dissipation and mass accretion rates across disk radii show coherence for frequencies below the local viscous frequency. This is consistent with the coherence behavior observed in astrophysical sources such as Cygnus X-1.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/791/2/126

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal
Journal Volume
791
Journal Issue
2
Journal Page Range
[9 p.]
ISSN
0004-637X
CODEN
ASJOAB

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
46070597
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ACCRETION DISKS; ANGULAR MOMENTUM; ASTROPHYSICS; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; EQUATIONS; FLUCTUATIONS; FOURIER ANALYSIS; GALAXIES; LUMINOSITY; MASS; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; STOCHASTIC PROCESSES; VISCOSITY
Descriptors DEC
OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICS; SIMULATION; VARIATIONS