Global MHD simulations of accretion disks in cataclysmic variables. I. The importance of spiral shocks

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/823/2/81· OSTI ID:22869051

Ju, Wenhua; Stone, James M.; Zhu, Zhaohuan ^[1]

---

1. Dept. of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 (United States)

We present results from the first global 3D MHD simulations of accretion disks in cataclysmic variable (CV) systems in order to investigate the relative importance of angular momentum transport via turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) compared with that driven by spiral shock waves. Remarkably, we find that even with vigorous MRI turbulence, spiral shocks are an important component of the overall angular momentum budget, at least when temperatures in the disk are high (so that Mach numbers are low). In order to understand the excitation, propagation, and damping of spiral density waves in our simulations more carefully, we perform a series of 2D global hydrodynamical simulations with various equation of states, both with and without mass inflow via the Lagrangian point (L1). Compared with previous similar studies, we find the following new results. (1) The linear wave dispersion relation fits the pitch angles of spiral density waves very well. (2) We demonstrate explicitly that mass accretion is driven by the deposition of negative angular momentum carried by the waves when they dissipate in shocks. (3) Using Reynolds stress scaled by gas pressure to represent the effective angular momentum transport rate α{sub eff} is not accurate when mass accretion is driven by non-axisymmetric shocks. (4) Using the mass accretion rate measured in our simulations to directly measure α defined in standard thin-disk theory, we find 0.02≲α{sub eff}≲0.05 for CV disks, consistent with observed values in quiescent states of dwarf novae. In this regime, the disk may be too cool and neutral for the MRI to operate and spiral shocks are a possible accretion mechanism. However, we caution that our simulations use unrealistically low Mach numbers in this regime and, therefore, future models with more realistic thermodynamics and non-ideal MHD are warranted.

• OSTI ID: 22869051
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 823; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
AXIAL SYMMETRY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DEPOSITION
DISPERSION RELATIONS
DISPERSIONS
EQUATIONS OF STATE
EXCITATION
INCLINATION
INSTABILITY
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
NOVAE
REYNOLDS NUMBER
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
STRESSES
THERMODYNAMICS
TURBULENCE