arXiv subjects

P. Chris Fragile

Publications and source records attributed to P. Chris Fragile.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Nuclear Ignition of White Dwarf Stars by Relativistic Encounters with Rotating Intermediate Mass Black Holes

We present results from general relativistic calculations of nuclear ignition in white dwarf stars triggered by near encounters with rotating intermediate mass black holes with different spin and alignment parameters. These encounters create thermonuclear environments characteristic of Type Ia supernovae capable of producing both calcium and iron group elements in arbitrary ratios, depending primarily on the proximity of the interaction which acts as a strong moderator of nucleosynthesis. We explore the effects of black hole spin and spin-orbital alignment on burn product synthesis to determine whether they might also be capable of moderating reactive flows. When normalized to equivalent impact penetration, accounting for frame dragging corrections, the influence of spin is weak, no more than 25% as measured by nuclear energy release and mass of burn products, even for near maximally rotating black holes. Stars on prograde trajectories approach closer to the black hole and produce significantly more unbound debris and iron group elements than is possible by encounters with nonrotating black holes or by retrograde orbits, at more than 50% mass conversion efficiency. The debris contains several radioisotopes, most notably Ni56, made in amounts that produce sub-luminous (but still observable) light curves compared to branch-normal SNe Ia.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Relativistic, Viscous, Radiation Hydrodynamic Simulations of Geometrically Thin Disks. II. Disk Variability

We perform detailed variability analysis of two-dimensional viscous, radiation hydrodynamic numerical simulations of Shakura-Sunyaev thin disks around a stellar mass black hole. Disk models are initialized on both the gas-, as well as radiation-, pressure-dominated branches of the thermal equilibrium curve, with mass accretion rates spanning the range from $\dot{M} = 0.01 L_\mathrm{Edd}/c^2$ to $10 L_\mathrm{Edd}/c^2$. An analysis of temporal variations of the numerically simulated disk reveals multiple robust, coherent oscillations. Considering the local mass flux variability, we find an oscillation occurring at the maximum radial epicyclic frequency, $3.5\times 10^{-3}\,t_\mathrm{g}^{-1}$, a possible signature of a trapped fundamental ${\it g}$-mode. Although present in each of our simulated models, the trapped ${\it g}$-mode feature is most prominent in the gas-pressure-dominated case. The total pressure fluctuations in the disk suggest strong evidence for standing-wave ${\it p}$-modes, some trapped in the inner disk close to the ISCO, others present in the middle/outer parts of the disk. Knowing that the trapped ${\it g}$-mode frequency and maximum radial epicyclic frequency differ by only $0.01\%$ in the case of a non-rotating black hole, we simulated an additional initially gas-pressure-dominated disk with a dimensionless black hole spin parameter $a_* = 0.5$. The oscillation frequency in the spinning black hole case confirms that this oscillation is indeed a trapped ${\it g}$-mode. All the numerical models we report here also show a set of high frequency oscillations at the vertical epicyclic and breathing mode frequencies. The vertical oscillations show a 3:2 frequency ratio with oscillations occurring approximately at the radial epicyclic frequency, which could be of astrophysical importance in observed twin peak, high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

The Event Horizon General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamic Code Comparison Project

Recent developments in compact object astrophysics, especially the discovery of merging neutron stars by LIGO, the imaging of the black hole in M87 by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) and high precision astrometry of the Galactic Center at close to the event horizon scale by the GRAVITY experiment motivate the development of numerical source models that solve the equations of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD). Here we compare GRMHD solutions for the evolution of a magnetized accretion flow where turbulence is promoted by the magnetorotational instability from a set of nine GRMHD codes: Athena++, BHAC, Cosmos++, ECHO, H-AMR, iharm3D, HARM-Noble, IllinoisGRMHD and KORAL. Agreement between the codes improves as resolution increases, as measured by a consistently applied, specially developed set of code performance metrics. We conclude that the community of GRMHD codes is mature, capable, and consistent on these test problems.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Divergence-Free Magnetohydrodynamics on Conformally Moving, Adaptive Meshes Using a Vector Potential Method

We present a new method for evolving the equations of magnetohydrodynamics (both Newtonian and relativistic) that is capable of maintaining a divergence-free magnetic field ($\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B} = 0$) on adaptively refined, conformally moving meshes. The method relies on evolving the magnetic vector potential and then using it to reconstruct the magnetic fields. The advantage of this approach is that the vector potential is not subject to a constraint equation in the same way the magnetic field is, and so can be refined and moved in a straightforward way. We test this new method against a wide array of problems from simple Alfven waves on a uniform grid to general relativistic MHD simulations of black hole accretion on a nested, spherical-polar grid. We find that the code produces accurate results and in all cases maintains a divergence-free magnetic field to machine precision.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2018

A Remarkably Loud Quasi-Periodicity after a Star is Disrupted by a Massive Black Hole

The immense tidal forces of massive black holes can rip apart stars that come too close to them. As the resulting stellar debris spirals inwards, it heats up and emits x-rays when near the black hole. Here, we report the discovery of an exceptionally stable 131-second x-ray quasi-periodicity from a black hole after it disrupted a star. Using a black hole mass indicated from host galaxy scaling relations implies that, (1) this periodicity originates from very close to the black hole's event horizon, and (2) the black hole is rapidly spinning. Our findings suggest that other disruption events with similar highly sensitive observations likely also exhibit quasi-periodicities that encode information about the fundamental properties of their black holes.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Simulating the Collapse of a Thick Accretion Disk due to a Type I X-ray Burst from a Neutron Star

We use two-dimensional, general relativistic, viscous, radiation hydrodynamic simulations to study the impact of a Type I X-ray burst on a hot and geometrically thick accretion disk surrounding an unmagnetized, non-rotating neutron star. The disk is initially consistent with a system in its low/hard spectral state, and is subject to a burst which rises to a peak luminosity of $10^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$ in $2.05$ s. At the peak of the burst, the temperature of the disk has dropped by more than three orders of magnitude and its scale height has gone down by more than one order of magnitude. The simulations show that these effects predominantly happen due to Compton cooling of the hot plasma, and clearly illustrate the potential cooling effects of bursts on accretion disk coronae. In addition, we demonstrate the presence of Poynting-Robertson drag, though it only enhances the mass accretion rate onto the neutron star by a factor of $\sim 3$-$4$ compared to a simulation with no burst. Simulations such as these are important for building a general understanding of the response of an accretion disk to an intense X-ray impulse, which, in turn, will be crucial for deciphering burst spectra. Detailed analysis of such spectra offers the potential to measure neutron star radii, and hence constrain the neutron star equation of state, but only if the contributions coming from the impacted disk and its associated corona can be understood.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Breathing Oscillations in a Global Simulation of a Thin Accretion Disk

We study the oscillations of an axisymmetric, viscous, radiative, general relativistic hydrodynamical simulation of a geometrically thin disk around a non-rotating, $6.62\,M_\odot$ black hole. The numerical setup is initialized with a Novikov-Thorne, gas-pressure-dominated accretion disk, with an initial mass accretion rate of $\dot{m} = 0.01\,L_\mathrm{Edd}/c^2$ (where $L_\mathrm{Edd}$ is the Eddington luminosity and $c$ is the speed of light). Viscosity is treated with the $α$-prescription. The simulation was evolved for about $1000$ Keplerian orbital periods at three Schwarzschild radii (ISCO radius). Power density spectra of the radial and vertical fluid velocity components, the total (gas $+$ radiation) midplane pressure, and the vertical component of radiative flux from the photosphere, all reveal strong power at the local breathing oscillation frequency. The first, second and third harmonics of the breathing oscillation are also clearly seen in the data. We quantify the properties of these oscillations by extracting eigenfunctions of the radial and vertical velocity components and total pressure. This confirms that these oscillations are associated with breathing motion.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Relativistic Tidal Disruption and Nuclear Ignition of White Dwarf Stars by Intermediate Mass Black Holes

We present results from general relativistic calculations of the tidal disruption of white dwarf stars from near encounters with intermediate mass black holes. We follow the evolution of 0.2 and $0.6 M_\odot$ stars on parabolic trajectories that approach $10^3$ - $10^4 M_\odot$ black holes as close as a few Schwarzschild radii at periapsis, paying particular attention to the effect tidal disruption has on thermonuclear reactions and the synthesis of intermediate to heavy ion elements. These encounters create diverse thermonuclear environments characteristic of Type I supernovae and capable of producing both intermediate and heavy mass elements in arbitrary ratios, depending on the strength (or proximity) of the interaction. Nuclear ignition is triggered in all of our calculations, even at weak tidal strengths $β\sim 2.6$ and large periapsis radius $R_P \sim 28$ Schwarzschild radii. A strong inverse correlation exists between the mass ratio of calcium to iron group elements and tidal strength, with $β\lesssim 5$ producing predominately calcium-rich debris. At these moderate to weak interactions, nucleosynthesis is not especially efficient, limiting the total mass and outflows of calcium group elements to $< 15$\% of available nuclear fuel. Iron group elements however continue to be produced in greater quantity and ratio with increasing tidal strength, peaking at $\sim 60$\% mass conversion efficiency in our closest encounter cases. These events generate short bursts of gravitational waves with characteristic frequencies 0.1-0.7 Hz and strain amplitudes $0.5\times10^{-22}$ - $3.5\times10^{-22}$ at 10 Mpc source distance.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Relativistic Viscous Radiation Hydrodynamic Simulations of Geometrically Thin Disks: I. Thermal and Other Instabilities

We present results from two-dimensional, general relativistic, viscous, radiation hydrodynamic numerical simulations of Shakura-Sunyaev thin disks accreting onto stellar mass Schwarzschild black holes. We consider cases on both the gas- and radiation-pressure-dominated branches of the thermal equilibrium curve, with mass accretion rates spanning the range from $\dot{M} = 0.01 L_\mathrm{Edd}/c^2$ to $10 L_\mathrm{Edd}/c^2$. The simulations directly test the stability of this standard disk model on the different branches. We find clear evidence of thermal instability for all radiation-pressure-dominated disks, resulting universally in the vertical collapse of the disks, which in some cases then settle onto the stable, gas-pressure-dominated branch. Although these results are consistent with decades-old theoretical predictions, they appear to be in conflict with available observational data from black hole X-ray binaries. We also find evidence for a radiation-pressure-driven instability that breaks the unstable disks up into alternating rings of high and low surface density on a timescale comparable to the thermal collapse. Since radiation is included self-consistently in the simulations, we are able to calculate lightcurves and power density spectra (PDS). For the most part, we measure radiative efficiencies (ratio of luminosity to mass accretion rate) close to 6%, as expected for a non-rotating black hole. The PDS appear as broken power laws, with a break typically around 100 Hz. There is no evidence of significant excess power at any frequencies, i.e. no quasi-periodic oscillations are observed.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Numerical Simulations of a Jet-Cloud Collision and Starburst: Application to Minkowski's Object

We present results of three-dimensional, multi-physics simulations of an AGN jet colliding with an intergalactic cloud. The purpose of these simulations is to assess the degree of "positive feedback," i.e. jet-induced star formation, that results. We have specifically tailored our simulation parameters to facilitate comparison with recent observations of Minkowski's Object (M.O.), a stellar nursery located at the termination point of a radio jet coming from galaxy NGC 541. As shown in our simulations, such a collision triggers shocks which propagate around and through the cloud. These shocks condense the gas and under the right circumstances may trigger cooling instabilities, creating runaway increases in density, to the point that individual clumps can become Jeans unstable. Our simulations provide information about the expected star formation rate, total mass converted to \ion{H}{1}, H$_2$, and stars, and the relative velocity of the stars and gas. Our results confirm the possibility of jet-induced star formation, and agree well with the observations of M.O.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

Simultaneous Monitoring of X-ray and Radio Variability in Sagittarius A*

Monitoring of Sagittarius A* from X-ray to radio wavelengths has revealed structured variability --- including X-ray flares --- but it is challenging to establish correlations between them. Most studies have focused on variability in the X-ray and infrared, where variations are often simultaneous, and because long time series at sub-millimeter and radio wavelengths are limited. Previous work on sub-mm and radio variability hints at a lag between X-ray flares and their candidate sub-millimeter or radio counterparts, with the long wavelength data lagging the X-ray. However, there is only one published time lag between an X-ray flare and a possible radio counterpart. Here we report 9 contemporaneous X-ray and radio observations of Sgr A*. We detect significant radio variability peaking $\gtrsim$176 minutes after the brightest X-ray flare ever detected from Sgr A*. We also report other potentially associated X-ray and radio variability, with the radio peaks appearing $\lesssim$80 minutes after these weaker X-ray flares. Taken at face value, these results suggest that stronger X-ray flares lead to longer time lags in the radio. However, we also test the possibility that the variability at X-ray and radio wavelengths is not temporally correlated. We cross-correlate data from mismatched X-ray and radio epochs and obtain comparable correlations to the matched data. Hence, we find no overall statistical evidence that X-ray flares and radio variability are correlated, underscoring a need for more simultaneous, long duration X-ray--radio monitoring of Sgr A*.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

CosmosDG: An hp-Adaptive Discontinuous Galerkin Code for Hyper-Resolved Relativistic MHD

We have extended Cosmos++, a multi-dimensional unstructured adaptive mesh code for solving the covariant Newtonian and general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, to accommodate both discrete finite volume and arbitrarily high order finite element structures. The new finite element implementation, called CosmosDG, is based on a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) formulation, using both entropy-based artificial viscosity and slope limiting procedures for regularization of shocks. High order multi-stage forward Euler and strong stability preserving Runge-Kutta time integration options complement high order spatial discretization. We have also added flexibility in the code infrastructure allowing for both adaptive mesh and adaptive basis order refinement to be performed separately or simultaneously in a local (cell-by-cell) manner. We discuss in this report the DG formulation and present tests demonstrating the robustness, accuracy, and convergence of our numerical methods applied to special and general relativistic MHD, though we note an equivalent capability currently also exists in CosmosDG for Newtonian systems.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2017

On the Decay of Strong Magnetization in Global Disc Simulations with Toroidal Fields

Strong magnetization in accretion discs could resolve a number of outstanding issues related to stability and state transitions in low-mass X-ray binaries. However, it is unclear how real discs become strongly magnetized and, even if they do, whether they can remain in such a state. In this paper, we address the latter issue through a pair of global disc simulations. Here, we only consider cases of initially purely toroidal magnetic fields contained entirely within a compact torus. We find that, over only a few tens of orbital periods, the magnetization of an initially strongly magnetized disc, $P_\mathrm{mag}/P_\mathrm{gas} \ge 10$, drops to $\lesssim 0.1$, similar to the steady-state value reached in initially weakly magnetized discs. This is consistent with recent shearing box simulations with initially strong toroidal fields, the robust conclusion being that strongly magnetized toroidal fields can not be locally self-sustaining. These results appear to leave net poloidal flux or extended radial fields as the only avenues for establishing strongly magnetized discs, ruling out the thermal collapse scenario.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

High-Frequency and Type-C QPOs from Oscillating, Precessing Hot, Thick Flow

Motivated by recent studies showing an apparent correlation between the high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) and the low-frequency, type-C QPO in low-mass, black hole X-ray binaries (LMXBs), we explore a model that explains all three QPOs in terms of an oscillating, precessing hot flow in the truncated-disk geometry. Our model favors attributing the two high-frequency QPOs, often occurring in a near 3:2 frequency ratio, to the breathing and vertical epicyclic frequency modes of the hot, thick flow, although we can not rule out the Keplerian and m=-1 radial epicyclic modes. In either case, the type-C QPO is attributed to precession. The correlation of the QPOs comes from the fact that all three frequencies are associated with the same geometrical structure. While the exact QPO frequencies are sensitive to the black hole mass and spin, their evolution over the course of an outburst is mainly tied to the truncation radius between the geometrically thin, optically thick disk and the inner, hot flow. We show that, in the case of the LMXB GRO J1655-40, this model can explain the one simultaneous observation of all three QPOs and that an extrapolation of the model appears to match lower frequency observations where only two of the three components are seen. Thus, this model may be able to unify multiple QPO observations using the properties of a single, simple, geometrical model.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Radio and Millimeter Monitoring of Sgr A*: Spectrum, Variability, and Constraints on the G2 Encounter

We report new observations with the Very Large Array, Atacama Large Millimeter Array, and Submillimeter Array at frequencies from 1.0 to 355 GHz of the Galactic Center black hole, Sagittarius A*. These observations were conducted between October 2012 and November 2014. While we see variability over the whole spectrum with an amplitude as large as a factor of 2 at millimeter wavelengths, we find no evidence for a change in the mean flux density or spectrum of Sgr A* that can be attributed to interaction with the G2 source. The absence of a bow shock at low frequencies is consistent with a cross-sectional area for G2 that is less than $2 \times 10^{29}$ cm$^2$. This result fits with several model predictions including a magnetically arrested cloud, a pressure-confined stellar wind, and a stellar photosphere of a binary merger. There is no evidence for enhanced accretion onto the black hole driving greater jet and/or accretion flow emission. Finally, we measure the millimeter wavelength spectral index of Sgr A* to be flat; combined with previous measurements, this suggests that there is no spectral break between 230 and 690 GHz. The emission region is thus likely in a transition between optically thick and thin at these frequencies and requires a mix of lepton distributions with varying temperatures consistent with stratification.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Local Stability of Strongly Magnetized Black Hole Tori

We investigate the local stability of strongly magnetized relativistic tori orbiting Kerr black holes, for the case of a purely toroidal magnetic field topology. Our approach encompasses both solving the full dispersion relation numerically and solving a simplified analytic treatment. Both approaches indicate that such tori are subject to an unstable non-axisymmetric magnetorotational mode, regardless of such background properties as the gas-to-magnetic pressure ratio and specific angular momentum distribution. We demonstrate that our modal analysis matches well with what is seen in global, three-dimensional, general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

No Evidence for Bardeen-Petterson Alignment in GRMHD Simulations and Semi-Analytic Models of Moderately Thin, Prograde, Tilted Accretion Disks

In this paper we introduce the first results that use data extracted directly from numerical simulations as inputs to the analytic twisted disk model of Zhuravlev & Ivanov. In both numerical and analytic approaches, fully relativistic models of tilted and twisted disks having a moderate effective viscosity around a slowly rotating Kerr black hole are considered. Qualitatively, the analytic model demonstrates the same dynamics as the simulations, although with some quantitative offset. Namely, the GRMHD simulations generally give smaller variations of tilt and twist across the disk. When the black hole and the disk rotate in the same sense, the simulated tilted disk and analytic model show no sign of Bardeen-Petterson alignment, even in the innermost parts of the disk, where the characteristic time for relaxation to a quasi-stationary configuration is of the same order as the computation time. In the opposite case, when the direction of the disk's rotation is opposite to that of black hole, a partial alignment is observed, in agreement with previous theoretical estimates. Thus, both fully numerical and analytic schemes demonstrate that the Bardeen-Petterson effect may not be possible for the case of prograde rotation provided that disk's effective viscosity is sufficiently small. This may have implications in modeling of different astrophysical phenomena, such as disk spectra and jet orientation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Conservative GRMHD Simulations of Moderately Thin, Tilted Accretion Disks

This paper presents our latest numerical simulations of accretion disks that are misaligned with respect to the rotation axis of a Kerr black hole. In this work we use a new, fully conservative version of the Cosmos++ general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) code, coupled with an ad hoc cooling function designed to control the thickness of the disk. Together these allow us to simulate the thinnest tilted accretion disks ever using a GRMHD code. In this way, we are able to probe the regime where the dimensionless stress and scale height of the disk become comparable. We present results for both prograde and retrograde cases. The simulated prograde tilted disk shows no sign of Bardeen-Petterson alignment even in the innermost parts of the disk. The simulated retrograde tilted disk, however, does show modest alignment. The implication of these results is that the parameter space associated with Bardeen-Petterson alignment for prograde disks may be rather small, only including very thin disks. Unlike our previous work, we find no evidence for standing shocks in our simulated tilted disks. We ascribe this to the combination of small black hole spin, small tilt angle, and small disk scale height in these simulations. We also add to the growing body of literature pointing out that the turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability in global simulations of accretion disks is not isotropic. Finally, we provide a comparison between our moderately thin, untilted reference simulation and other numerical simulations of thin disks in the literature.

astro-ph.HE↗