arXiv · 1602.01833
Near-horizon Kerr Magnetosphere
Abstract
We exploit the near-horizon conformal symmetry of rapidly spinning black holes to determine universal properties of their magnetospheres. Analytic expressions are derived for the limiting form of the magnetosphere in the near-horizon region. The symmetry is shown to imply that the black hole Meissner effect holds for free Maxwell fields but is generically violated for force-free fields. We further show that in the extremal limit, near-horizon plasma particles are infinitely boosted relative to accretion flow. Active galactic nuclei powered by rapidly spinning black holes are therefore natural sites for high-energy particle collisions.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Samuel E. Gralla, Alexandru Lupsasca, Andrew Strominger. 2016-02-04. Near-horizon Kerr Magnetosphere. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.93.104041
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.