arXiv subjects

Agnieszka Janiuk

Publications and source records attributed to Agnieszka Janiuk.

107 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

On the duration of long GRBs: effects of black hole spin

In the frame of the collapsar model for long gamma ray bursts (GRBs), we investigate the formation of a torus around a spinning BH and we check what rotational properties a progenitor star must have in order to sustain torus accretion over relatively long activity periods. We also study the time evolution of the BH spin parameter. We take into account the coupling between BH mass, its spin parameter and the critical specific angular momentum of accreting gas, needed for the torus to form. The large BH spin reduces the critical angular momentum which in turn can increase the GRB duration with respect to the Schwarzschild BH case. We quantify this effect and estimate the GRB durations in three cases: when a hyper accreting torus operates or a BH spins very fast or both. We show under what conditions a given progenitor star produces a burst that can last as short as several seconds and as long as several hundred of seconds. Our models indicate that it is possible for a single collapse to produce three kinds of jets: (1) a very short, lasting between a fraction of a second and a few seconds, 'precursor' jet, powered only by a hyper accreting torus before the BH spins up, (2) an 'early' jet, lasting several tens of seconds and powered by both hyper accretion and BH rotation, and (3) a 'late' jet, powered only by the spinning BH.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Nonaxisymmetric Effects in the Black Hole Accretion Inviscid Hydrodynamics: Formation and Evolution of a Tilted Torus

We report on the fourth phase of our study of slightly rotating accretion flows onto black holes. The main new element of this study is that we used fully three dimensional (3-D) numerical simulations. We consider hydrodynamics of inviscid accretion flows. We assume a spherically symmetric density distribution at the outer boundary, but brake the flow symmetry by introducing a small, latitude-dependent angular momentum. We also consider cases where angular momentum at large radii is latitude- and azimuth-dependent. For the latitude-dependent angular momentum, 3-D simulations confirm axisymmetric results: the material that has too much angular momentum to be accreted forms a thick torus near the equator. Consequently, accretion proceeds only through the polar funnel, and the mass accretion rate through the funnel is constrained by the size and shape of the torus, not by the outer conditions. In 3-D simulations, we found that the torus precesses, even for axisymmetric conditions at large radii. For the latitude and azimuth-dependent angular momentum, the non-rotating gas near the equator can also significantly affect the evolution of the rotating gas. In particular, it may prevent the formation of a proper torus (i.e. its closing, in the azimuthal direction). In such models, the mass accretion rate is only slightly less than the corresponding Bondi rate.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Low angular momentum accretion in the collapsar: how long can a long GRB be?

The collapsar model is the most promising scenario to explain the huge release of energy associated with long duration gamma-ray-bursts (GRBs). Within this scenario GRBs are believed to be powered by accretion through a rotationally support torus or by fast rotation of a compact object. In both cases then, rotation of the progenitor star is one of the key properties because it must be high enough for the torus to form, the compact object to rotate very fast, or both. Here, we check what rotational properties a progenitor star must have in order to sustain torus accretion over relatively long activity periods as observed in most GRBs. We show that simple, often cited, estimates of the total mass available for torus formation and consequently the duration of a GRB are only upper limits. We revise these estimates by taking into account the long term effect that as the compact object accretes the minimum specific angular momentum needed for torus formation increases. This in turn leads to a smaller fraction of the stellar envelope that can form a torus. We demostrate that this effect can lead to a significant, an order of magnidute, reduction of the total energy and overall duration of a GRB event. This of course can be mitigated by assuming that the progenitor star rotates faster then we assumed. However, our assumed rotation is already high compared to observational and theoretical constraints. We also discuss implications of our result.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Instabilities in the time-dependent neutrino disc in Gamma-Ray Bursts

We investigate the properties and evolution of accretion tori formed after the coalescence of two compact objects. At these extreme densities and temperatures, the accreting torus is cooled mainly by neutrino emission produced primarily by electron and positron capture on nucleons (beta reactions). We solve for the disc structure and its time evolution by introducing a detailed treatment of the equation of state which includes photodisintegration of helium, the condition of beta-equilibrium, and neutrino opacities. We self-consistently calculate the chemical equilibrium in the gas consisting of helium, free protons, neutrons and electron-positron pairs and compute the chemical potentials of the species, as well as the electron fraction throughout the disc. We find that, for sufficiently large accretion rates (> 10 solar masses per second), the inner regions of the disk become opaque and develop a viscous and thermal instability. The identification of this instability might be relevant for GRB observations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Time delays between the soft and hard X-ray bands in GRS 1915+105

The hard X-ray lightcurves exhibit delays of $\sim 1$ s with respect to the soft X-ray lightcurves when the microquasar GRS 1915+105 is in the state of frequent, regular outbursts (states $ρ$ and $κ$ of Belloni et al. 2000). Such outbursts are supposed to be driven by the radiation pressure instability of the inner disc parts. The hard X-ray delays are then caused by the time needed for the adjustment of the corona to changing conditions in the underlying disc. We support this claim by the computation of the time evolution of the disc, including a non-stationary evaporation of the disc and mass exchange with the corona.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Evolution of a neutrino-cooled disc in Gamma-Ray Bursts

Rapid, hyper-Eddington accretion is likely to power the central engines of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). In the extreme conditions of densities and temperatures the accreting torus is cooled by neutrino emission rather than by radiation. Another important cooling mechanism is the advection of energy into the central black hole. We compute the time evolution of a neutrino-dominated disc that proceeds during the burst and investigate the changes in its density and temperature. The discrimination between short and long bursts is made on the basis of the different rates of material inflow to the outer parts of the disc, thus favoring the binary merger scenario for the short GRBs and the collapsar scenario for the long ones. Within the context of the collapsar model, we also study the evolution of the photon luminosity of the remnant disc up to times of the order of 1 day, and discuss its implications for the production of emission lines in GRB spectra.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

On the turbulent $α$-disks and the intermittent activity in AGN

We consider effects of the MHD turbulence on the viscosity during the evolution of the thermal-viscous ionization instability in the standard $α$-accretion disks. We consider the possibility that the accretion onto a supermassive black hole proceeds through an outer standard accretion disk and inner, radiatively inefficient and advection dominated flow. In this scenario we follow the time evolution of the accretion disk in which the viscosity parameter $α$ is constant throughout the whole instability cycle, as implied by the strength of MHD turbulence. We conclude that the hydrogen ionization instability is a promising mechanism to explain the intermittent activity in AGN.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Radiation pressure instability driven variability in the accreting black holes

The time dependent evolution of the accretion disk around black hole is computed. The classical description of the $α$-viscosity is adopted so the evolution is driven by the instability operating in the innermost radiation-pressure dominated part of the accretion disk. We assume that the optically thick disk always extends down to the marginally stable orbit so it is never evacuated completely. We include the effect of the advection, coronal dissipation and vertical outflow. We show that the presence of the corona and/or the outflow reduce the amplitude of the outburst. If only about half of the energy is dissipated in the disk (with the other half dissipated in the corona and carried away by the outflow) the outburst amplitude and duration are consistent with observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105. Viscous evolution explains in a natural way the lack of direct transitions from the state C to the state B in color-color diagram of this source. Further reduction of the fraction of energy dissipated in the optically thick disk switches off the outbursts which may explain why they are not seen in all high accretion rate sources being in the Very High State.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Chandra Survey of Radio-quiet, High-redshift Quasars

We observed 17 optically-selected, radio-quiet high-redshift quasars with the Chandra Observatory ACIS, and detected 16 of them. The quasars have redshift between 3.70 and 6.28 and include the highest redshift quasars known. When compared to low-redshift quasars observed with ROSAT, these high redshift quasars are significantly more X-ray quiet. We also find that the X-ray spectral index of the high redshift objects is flatter than the average at lower redshift. These trends confirm the predictions of models where the accretion flow is described by a cold, optically-thick accretion disk surrounded by a hot, optically thin corona, provided the viscosity parameter alpha >= 0.02. The high redshift quasars have supermassive black holes with masses ~10^{10} M_{sun}, and are accreting material at ~0.1 the Eddington limit. We detect 10 X-ray photons from the z=6.28 quasar SDS 1030+0524, which may have a Gunn-Peterson trough and be near the redshift of reionization of the intergalactic medium. The X-ray data place an upper limit on the optical depth of the intergalactic medium tau(IGM) < 10^6, compared to the lower limit from the spectrum of Lyalpha and Lybeta, which implies tau(IGM) > 20.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Spectral properties of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Quasar PG1211+143

We propose a theoretical model to explain the spectrum of the quasar PG1211+143 emitted in the Optical/X-ray bands. In particular, we suggest that the inner accretion disk may develop a warm, optically thick skin, which produces a profound emission feature observed in the soft X-ray band. This is well modelled with the Comptonized black body emission. The same warm, mildly ionized medium may also be responsible for the hard X-ray reflection and the presence of the iron $K_α$ line. However, in our model it still remains an open question, whether the seed photons for Comptonization come from the cold accretion disc or from the hotter plasma. High resolution spectroscopy available through the Chandra and XMM data may provide now an independent test of the physical conditions in the Comptonizing and reflecting warm skin.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Probing the Central Engine of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies

The central engine of the the Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxies is being probed. We use the ASCA and RXTE data to model the X-ray primary continuum as well as the reflected component and iron $Kα$ line. Since these are strongly coupled, we obtain independent measurements of the disc ionization level and the orientation dependent reflection amplitude. Using the available Optical/UV data we also estimate the black hole masses and the $L/L_{Edd}$ ratios, which are probably related to Boroson & Green eigenvector~1.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Thermal and Viscous Instability of Accretion Disc in AGN

The standard accretion discs are known to be thermally and viscously unstable over a certain range of temperatures. In the inner disc regions there may develop radiation pressure driven instability, which is possibly related to the rapid variability detected in AGNs in the UV range. In the outer disc develops the ionization instability, similar to that in the cataclysmic variables, but operating on much longer timescales. Due to this process the spectrum of the accretion disc differs from that of a stationary one.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Radiation pressure instability as a variability mechanism in the microquasar GRS 1915+105

Physical mechanism responsible for high viscosity in accretion disks is still under debate. Parameterization of the viscous stress as $αP$ proved to be a successful representation of this mechanism in the outer parts of the disk, explaining the dwarf novae and X-ray novae outbursts as due to ionization instability. We show that this parameterization can be also adopted in the innermost part of the disk where the adoption of the $α$-viscosity law implies the presence of the instability in the radiation pressure dominated region. We study the time evolution of such disks. We show that the time-dependent behavior of GRS 1915+105 can be well reproduced if $α$-viscosity disk model is calculated accurately (with proper numerical coefficients in vertically averaged equations and with advection included), and if the model is supplemented with (i) moderate corona dissipating 50% of energy (ii) jet carrying luminosity-dependent fraction of energy. These necessary modifications in the form of the presence of a corona and a jet are well justified observationally. The model predicts outbursts at luminosity larger than 0.16$\dot M_{Edd}$, as required, correct outburst timescales and amplitudes, including the effect of increasing outburst timescale with mean luminosity. This result strongly suggests that the $α$-viscosity law is a good description of the actual mechanism responsible for angular momentum transfer also in the innermost, radiation pressure dominated part of the disk around a black hole.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

On the effect of coronal outflow on spectra formation in galactic black hole systems

We present the results of both analytical and numerical calculations of the amplitude of the reflection component in X-ray spectra of galactic black hole systems. We take into account the anisotropy of Compton scattering and the systematic relativistic bulk motion of the hot plasma. In the case of single scattering approximation the reflection from the disc surface is significantly enhanced due to the anisotropy of Compton scattering. On the other hand the calculations of multiple scattering obtained using the Monte Carlo method show that the anisotropy effect is much weaker in that case. Therefore, the enhanced backscattered flux may affect the observed spectra only if the disc surface is highly ionized, which reduces the absorption in the energy band corresponding to the first Compton scattering.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Variability Model for the Microquasar GRS 1915+105

We analyse the radiation pressure instability of the standard, optically thisc disc and propose it as an explanation of the obseved variability of the superluminal microquasar GRS 1915+105. The quantitave agreement with the observed outburst amplitudes is obtained under the assumption that substantial part of the energy is carried away by the jet.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Properties of the two-temperature corona model for active galactic nuclei and galactic black holes

We study in detail the properties of the accreting corona model for active galactic nuclei and galactic black holes. In this model the fraction of the energy liberated in the corona at a given radius is calculated from the global parameters of the model (mass of the central object, accretion rate and viscosity parameter) and it appears to be a strong function of the radius. The model predicts the relative decrease of the coronal hard X-ray emission with an increase of the accretion rate. The presented description of disc/corona interaction forms a basis for further studies of disc disruption mechanism.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

The role of advection in the accreting corona model for active galactic nuclei and Galactic black holes

We consider the role of advection in the two-temperature accreting corona with an underlying optically thick disc. The properties of coronal solutions depend significantly on the description of advection. Local parameterization of advection by a constant coeficient $δ$ replacing the radial derivatives lead to complex topology of solutions, similar to some extent to other advection-dominated accretion flow solutions. One, radiatively cooled branch exists for low accertion rates. For higher accretion rates two solutions exist in a broad range of radii: one is radiatively cooled and the other one is advection-dominated. With further increase of accretion rate the radial extensions of the two solutions shrink and no solutions are found above certain critical value. However, these trends change if the local parameterization of advection is replaced by proper radial derivatives computed iteratively from the model. Only one, radiatively cooled solution remains, and it exists even for high accretion rates. The advection-dominated branch disappears during the iteration process which means that a self-consistently described advection-dominated flow cannot exist in the presence of an underlying cold disc.

astro-ph↗