Force-Free Magnetosphere of an Accreting Kerr Black Hole
Abstract
Description
I consider a stationary axisymmetric force-free degenerate magnetosphere of a rotating Kerr black hole surrounded by a thin Keplerian infinitely-conducting accretion disk. I focus on the closed-field geometry with a direct magnetic coupling between the disk and the event horizon. I first present a simple physical argument that shows how the black hole's rotation limits the radial extent of the force-free link. I then confirm this result by solving numerically the general-relativistic force-free Grad--Shafranov equation in the magnetosphere, using the regularity condition at the inner light cylinder to determine the poloidal current. I indeed find that force-free solutions exist only when the magnetic link between the hole and the disk has a limited extent on the disk surface. I chart out the maximum allowable size of this magnetically-connected part of the disk as a function of the black hole spin. I also compute the angular momentum and energy transfer between the hole and the disk that takes place via the direct magnetic link. I find that both of these quantities grow rapidly and that their deposition becomes highly concentrated near the inner edge of the disk as the black hole spin is increased.
Half a dozen pages and just as many figures; to be published in the proceedings of the 22nd Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics
Half a dozen pages and just as many figures; to be published in the proceedings of the 22nd Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics