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Title: Issues Regarding the Blandford-Znajek Process as a Gamma-Ray Burst Inner Engine

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/308937· OSTI ID:20217586

Several issues regarding the Blandford-Znajek process are discussed to demonstrate that it can be an effective mechanism for powering gamma-ray bursts. Using a simple circuit analysis, it is argued that the disk power increases the effective power of the black hole accretion disk system, although a part of the disk power can be dissipated into black hole entropy. Within the framework of a force-free magnetosphere with a strong magnetic field, a magnetically dominated MHD flow is found to support the Blandford-Znajek process, and it is demonstrated that the possible magnetic repulsion by the rotating black hole will not affect the efficiency substantially. (c) 2000 The American Astronomical Society.

OSTI ID:
20217586
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 536, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: 10 Jun 2000; ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English