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Title: Model for how an accretion disk drives astrophysical jets and sheds angular momentum

Abstract

Clumps of ions and neutrals in the weakly ionized plasma in an accretion disk are shown to follow trajectories analogous to those of fictitious 'metaparticles' having a charge to mass ratio reduced from that of an ion by the ionization fraction. A certain class of meta-particles have zero-canonical angular momentum and so spiral in towards the star. Accumulation of these meta-particles establishes a radial electric field that drives the electric current that flows in bidirectional astrophysical jets lying along the disk axis and provides forces that drive the jets. In conclusion, the entire process converts gravitational potential energy into jet energy while absorbing angular momentum from accreting material and shedding this angular momentum at near infinite radius.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1502094
Grant/Contract Number:  
FG02-04ER54755
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 60; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0741-3335
Publisher:
IOP Science
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; 79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; accretion disk; astrophysical jet; angular momentum; Hall MHD; dynamo; weakly ionized plasma; canonical angular momentum

Citation Formats

Bellan, Paul M. Model for how an accretion disk drives astrophysical jets and sheds angular momentum. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1088/1361-6587/aa85f9.
Bellan, Paul M. Model for how an accretion disk drives astrophysical jets and sheds angular momentum. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/aa85f9
Bellan, Paul M. Thu . "Model for how an accretion disk drives astrophysical jets and sheds angular momentum". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/aa85f9. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1502094.
@article{osti_1502094,
title = {Model for how an accretion disk drives astrophysical jets and sheds angular momentum},
author = {Bellan, Paul M.},
abstractNote = {Clumps of ions and neutrals in the weakly ionized plasma in an accretion disk are shown to follow trajectories analogous to those of fictitious 'metaparticles' having a charge to mass ratio reduced from that of an ion by the ionization fraction. A certain class of meta-particles have zero-canonical angular momentum and so spiral in towards the star. Accumulation of these meta-particles establishes a radial electric field that drives the electric current that flows in bidirectional astrophysical jets lying along the disk axis and provides forces that drive the jets. In conclusion, the entire process converts gravitational potential energy into jet energy while absorbing angular momentum from accreting material and shedding this angular momentum at near infinite radius.},
doi = {10.1088/1361-6587/aa85f9},
journal = {Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion},
number = 1,
volume = 60,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Oct 12 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Oct 12 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Experiments and models of MHD jets and their relevance to astrophysics and solar physics
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Parallel propagation and damping of electromagnetic waves in a partially ionized plasma with multiple species
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