Structure and Spectroscopy of Black Hole Accretion Disks

Technical Report · Mon Feb 14 04:00:00 EST 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/918406· OSTI ID:918406

Liedahl, D; Mauche, C

The warped spacetime near black holes is one of the most exotic observable environments in the Universe. X-ray spectra from active galaxies obtained with the current generation of X-ray observatories reveal line emission that is modified by both special relativistic and general relativistic effects. The interpretation is that we are witnessing X-ray irradiated matter orbiting in an accretion disk around a supermassive black hole, as it prepares to cross the event horizon. This interpretation, however, is based upon highly schematized models of accretion disk structure. This report describes a project to design a detailed computer model of accretion disk atmospheres, with the goal of elucidating the high radiation density environments associated with mass flows in the curved spacetime near gravitationally collapsed objects. We have evolved the capability to generate realistic theoretical X-ray line spectra of accretion disks, thereby providing the means for a workable exploration of the behavior of matter in the strong-field limit of gravitation.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 918406
• Report Number(s): UCRL-TR-210019
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ACCRETION DISKS
BLACK HOLES
COMPUTERS
DESIGN
EXPLORATION
GALAXIES
GRAVITATION
RADIATIONS
SPACE-TIME
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
UNIVERSE
X-RAY SPECTRA