Numerical studies of asymmetric adiabatic accretion flow - The effect of velocity gradients

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167297· OSTI ID:5727009

Taam, R E; Fryxell, B A

A numerical study of the time variation of the angular momentum and mass capture rates for a central object accreting from a uniform medium with a velocity gradient transverse to the direction of the mean flow is presented, covering a range of velocity asymmetries and Mach numbers in the incident flow. It is found that the mass accretion rate in a given evolutionary sequence varies in an irregular manner, with the matter accreting onto the central object from either a continuously moving accretion wake or from an accretion disk. The implications of the results from the study of short-term fluctuations observed in the pulse period and luminosity of X-ray pulsars are discussed. 35 refs.

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (USA); Chicago Univ., IL (USA); Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5727009
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 339; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
ADIABATIC PROCESSES
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ASYMMETRY
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
DENSITY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUMINOSITY
MACH NUMBER
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MASS
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PULSARS
PULSES
RADIATIONS
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY
X RADIATION