A New Approach to Black hole Spin in X-Ray Binaries

A new approach of detecting the black hole spin in x-ray binaries is proposed based on the model of the coexistence of the Blandford-Znajek （BZ） and magnetic coupling （MC） processes, in which the BZ process is used to power the jet emissions from x-ray binaries, and high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations （QPOs） are explained by a rotating hotspot in the inner region of the accretion disc surrounding a fast-spinning black hole. It is shown that the black hole spins of several x-ray binaries （XTE J1550-564, GRO d1665-40 and GRS 1915＋105） can be constrained in a rather narrow range, provided that QPOs and jets coexist in these sources.     

A toy model for magnetized neutrino-dominated accretion flows

In this paper, we present a simplified model for a magnetized neutrino-dominated accretion flow (NDAF) in which the effect of black hole (BH) spin is taken into account by adopting a set of relativistic correction factors, and the magnetic field is parameterized as β, the ratio of the magnetic pressure to the total pressure. It is found that the disc properties are sensitive to the values of the BH spin and β, and more energy can be extracted from NDAFs by using a faster spin and lower β.

     

Energy dissipation and angular momentum transfer within a magnetically torqued accretion disc

We discuss transportation and redistribution of energy and angular momentum in the magnetic connection (MC) process and Blandford-Payne (BP) process. MC results in readjusting the interior viscous torque, and its effects are operative not only in but also beyond the MC region. The BP process is invoked to transfer the “excessive” angular momentum from an accretion disc. In addition, we derive a criterion for the interior viscous torque to resolve the puzzle of the overall equilibrium of angular momentum in disc accretion. It turns out that the efficiency of BP at extracting angular momentum and the intensity of the outflow are required to be greater than some critical values.

     

Connection of Screw Instability with Electric Current in an Accretion Disc around a Black Hole

The screw instability of the magnetic field is discussed based on its poloidal configuration generated by a single toroidal electric current flowing in the equatorial plane of a Kerr black hole （BH）. The rotation of the BH relative to the disc induces an electromotive force, which in turn results in a poloidal electric current. By using Ampere＇s law, we calculate the toroidal component of the magnetic field and derive a criterion for the screw instability of the magnetic field connecting the rotating BH with its surrounding disc. It is determined that the screw instability is related to two parameters： the radius of the disc and the BH spin. The occurrence of screw instability is depicted in a parameter space. In addition, we discuss the effect of the screw instability on magnetic extraction of energy from the rotating BH.