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Title: Electron-positron pair production in hot unsaturated compton accretion models around black holes

Journal Article · · Astrophys. J.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/157594· OSTI ID:5486005

Electron-positron pairs photoproduced in conventional unsaturated Compton disk and spherical accretion models with electron temperature > or approx. =10/sup 9/ K are found to dominate over the background electrons. This results in an equilibrium temperature lower than previously found and severely constrains the model parameters in some cases. Electron-positron pair production does not alleviate the thermal instability of the optically thin two-temperature disk model.

Research Organization:
Institute of Theoretical Physics, Department of Physics, Stanford University
OSTI ID:
5486005
Journal Information:
Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 234:3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English