THE FORCE-FREE MAGNETOSPHERE OF A ROTATING BLACK HOLE

Journal Article · Sun Mar 10 04:00:00 EDT 2013 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/765/2/113· OSTI ID:22126997

Contopoulos, Ioannis ^[1]; Kazanas, Demosthenes ^[2]

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1. Research Center for Astronomy, Academy of Athens, Athens 11527 (Greece)
2. NASA/GSFC, Code 663, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (United States)

We revisit the Blandford-Znajek process and solve the fundamental equation that governs the structure of the steady-state force-free magnetosphere around a Kerr black hole. The solution depends on the distributions of the magnetic field angular velocity {omega} and the poloidal electric current I. These are not arbitrary. They are determined self-consistently by requiring that magnetic field lines cross smoothly the two singular surfaces of the problem: the inner ''light surface'' located inside the ergosphere and the outer ''light surface'' which is the generalization of the pulsar light cylinder. We find the solution for the simplest possible magnetic field configuration, the split monopole, through a numerical iterative relaxation method analogous to the one that yields the structure of the steady-state axisymmetric force-free pulsar magnetosphere. We obtain the rate of electromagnetic extraction of energy and confirm the results of Blandford and Znajek and of previous time-dependent simulations. Furthermore, we discuss the physical applicability of magnetic field configurations that do not cross both ''light surfaces''.

• OSTI ID: 22126997
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 765; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
ANGULAR VELOCITY
ASTRONOMY
ASTROPHYSICS
AXIAL SYMMETRY
BLACK HOLES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS
ITERATIVE METHODS
KERR METRIC
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
PULSARS
RELAXATION
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
SURFACES
TIME DEPENDENCE