arXiv subjects

Sean M. Ressler

Publications and source records attributed to Sean M. Ressler.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Accretion of Magnetized Stellar Winds in the Galactic Centre: Implications for Sgr A* and PSR J1745-2900

The observed rotation measures (RMs) towards the galactic centre magnetar and towards Sagittarius A* provide a strong constraint on MHD models of the galactic centre accretion flow, probing distances from the black hole separated by many orders of magnitude. We show, using 3D simulations of accretion via magnetized stellar winds of the Wolf-Rayet stars orbiting the black hole, that the large, time-variable RM observed for the pulsar PSR J1745-2900 can be explained by magnetized wind-wind shocks of nearby stars in the clockwise stellar disc. In the same simulation, both the total X-ray luminosity integrated over 2-10$''$, the time variability of the magnetar's dispersion measure, and the RM towards Sagittarius A* are consistent with observations. We argue that (in order for the large RM of the pulsar to not be a priori unlikely) the pulsar should be on an orbit that keeps it near the clockwise disc of stars. We present a 2D RM map of the central 1/2 parsec of the galactic centre that can be used to test our models. Our simulations predict that Sgr A* is typically accreting a significantly ordered magnetic field that ultimately could result in a strongly magnetized flow with flux threading the horizon at $\sim$ 10$\%$ of the magnetically arrested limit.

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arXiv2018

Two-Temperature GRRMHD Simulations of M87

We present axisymmetric two-temperature general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamic (GRRMHD) simulations of the inner region of the accretion flow onto the supermassive black hole M87. We address uncertainties from previous modeling efforts through inclusion of models for (1) self-consistent dissipative and Coulomb electron heating (2) radiation transport (3) frequency-dependent synchrotron emission, self-absorption, and Compton scattering. We adopt a distance $D=16.7$ Mpc, an observer angle $θ= 20^{\circ}$, and consider black hole masses $M/M_{\odot} = (3.3\times10^{9}, 6.2\times10^{9})$ and spins $a_{\star} = (0.5, 0.9375)$ in a four-simulation suite. For each $(M, a_{\star})$, we identify the accretion rate that recovers the 230 GHz flux from VLBI measurements. We report on disk thermodynamics at these accretion rates ($\dot{M}/\dot{M}_{\mathrm{Edd}} \sim 10^{-5}$). The disk remains geometrically thick; cooling does not lead to a thin disk component. While electron heating is dominated by Coulomb rather than dissipation for $r \gtrsim 10 GM/c^2$, the accretion disk remains two-temperature. Radiative cooling of electrons is not negligible, especially for $r \lesssim 10 GM/c^2$. The Compton $y$ parameter is of order unity. We then compare derived and observed or inferred spectra, mm images, and jet powers. Simulations with $M/M_{\odot} = 3.3\times10^{9}$ are in conflict with observations. These simulations produce mm images that are too small, while the low-spin simulation also overproduces X-rays. For $M/M_{\odot} = 6.2\times10^{9}$, both simulations agree with constraints on radio/IR/X-ray fluxes and mm image sizes. Simulation jet power is a factor $10^2-10^3$ below inferred values, a possible consequence of the modest net magnetic flux in our models.

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arXiv2018

Hydrodynamic Simulations of the Inner Accretion Flow of Sagittarius A* Fueled By Stellar Winds

We present Athena++ grid-based, hydrodynamic simulations of accretion onto Sagittarius A* via the stellar winds of the $\sim 30$ Wolf-Rayet stars within the central parsec of the galactic center. These simulations span $\sim$ 4 orders of magnitude in radius, reaching all the way down to 300 gravitational radii of the black hole, $\sim 32$ times further in than in previous work. We reproduce reasonably well the diffuse thermal X-ray emission observed by Chandra in the central parsec. The resulting accretion flow at small radii is a superposition of two components: 1) a moderately unbound, sub-Keplerian, thick, pressure-supported disc that is at most (but not all) times aligned with the clockwise stellar disc, and 2) a bound, low-angular momentum inflow that proceeds primarily along the southern pole of the disc. We interpret this structure as a natural consequence of a few of the innermost stellar winds dominating accretion, which produces a flow with a broad distribution of angular momentum. Including the star S2 in the simulation has a negligible effect on the flow structure. Extrapolating our results from simulations with different inner radii, we find an accretion rate of $\sim$ a few $\times 10^{-8} M_\odot$/yr at the horizon scale, consistent with constraints based on modeling the observed emission of Sgr A*. The flow structure found here can be used as more realistic initial conditions for horizon scale simulations of Sgr A*.

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arXiv2017

The Radiative Efficiency and Spectra of Slowly Accreting Black Holes from Two-Temperature GRRMHD Simulations

We present axisymmetric numerical simulations of radiatively inefficient accretion flows onto black holes combining general relativity, magnetohydrodynamics, self-consistent electron thermodynamics, and frequency-dependent radiation transport. We investigate a range of accretion rates up to $10^{-5} \dot{M}_{\mathrm{Edd}}$ onto a $10^8 M_{\odot}$ black hole with spin $a_{\star} = 0.5$. We report on averaged flow thermodynamics as a function of accretion rate. We present the spectra of outgoing radiation and find that it varies strongly with accretion rate, from synchrotron-dominated in the radio at low $\dot{M}$ to inverse Compton-dominated at our highest $\dot{M}$. In contrast to canonical analytic models, we find that by $\dot{M} \approx 10^{-5} \dot{M}_{\mathrm{Edd}}$, the flow approaches $\sim 1\%$ radiative efficiency, with much of the radiation due to inverse Compton scattering off Coulomb-heated electrons far from the black hole. These results have broad implications for modeling of accreting black holes across a large fraction of the accretion rates realized in observed systems.

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arXiv2017

The Disc-Jet Symbiosis Emerges: Modeling the Emission of Sagittarius A* with Electron Thermodynamics

We calculate the radiative properties of Sagittarius A* -- spectral energy distribution, variability, and radio-infrared images -- using the first 3D, physically motivated black hole accretion models that directly evolve the electron thermodynamics in general relativistic MHD simulations. These models reproduce the coupled disc-jet structure for the emission favored by previous phenomenological analytic and numerical works. More specifically, we find that the low frequency radio emission is dominated by emission from a polar outflow while the emission above 100 GHz is dominated by the inner region of the accretion disc. The latter produces time variable near infrared (NIR) and X-ray emission, with frequent flaring events (including IR flares without corresponding X-ray flares and IR flares with weak X-ray flares). The photon ring is clearly visible at 230 GHz and 2 microns, which is encouraging for future horizon-scale observations. We also show that anisotropic electron thermal conduction along magnetic field lines has a negligible effect on the radiative properties of our model. We conclude by noting limitations of our current generation of first-principles models, particularly that the outflow is closer to adiabatic than isothermal and thus underpredicts the low frequency radio emission.

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arXiv2017

X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Emission from Middle-aged Supernova Remnants in Cavities. I. Spherical Symmetry

We present analytical and numerical studies of models of supernova-remnant (SNR) blast waves expanding into uniform media and interacting with a denser cavity wall, in one spatial dimension. We predict the nonthermal emission from such blast waves: synchrotron emission at radio and X-ray energies, and bremsstrahlung, inverse-Compton emission (from cosmic-microwave-background seed photons, ICCMB), and emission from the decay of $π^0$ mesons produced in inelastic collisions between accelerated ions and thermal gas, at GeV and TeV energies. Accelerated particle spectra are assumed to be power-laws with exponential cutoffs at energies limited by the remnant age or (for electrons, if lower) by radiative losses. We compare the results with those from homogeneous ("one-zone") models. Such models give fair representations of the 1-D results for uniform media, but cavity-wall interactions produce effects for which one-zone models are inadequate. We study the time evolution of SNR morphology and emission with time. Strong morphological differences exist between ICCMB and $π^0$-decay emission, at some stages, the TeV emission can be dominated by the former and the GeV by the latter, resulting in strong energy-dependence of morphology. Integrated gamma-ray spectra show apparent power-laws of slopes that vary with time, but do not indicate the energy distribution of a single population of particles. As observational capabilities at GeV and TeV energies improve, spatial inhomogeneity in SNRs will need to be accounted for.

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arXiv2015

Electron Thermodynamics in GRMHD Simulations of Low-Luminosity Black Hole Accretion

Simple assumptions made regarding electron thermodynamics often limit the extent to which general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations can be applied to observations of low-luminosity accreting black holes. We present, implement, and test a model that self-consistently evolves an electron entropy equation and takes into account the effects of spatially varying electron heating and relativistic anisotropic thermal conduction along magnetic field lines. We neglect the back-reaction of electron pressure on the dynamics of the accretion flow. Our model is appropriate for systems accreting at $\ll 10^{-5}$ of the Eddington rate, so radiative cooling by electrons can be neglected. It can be extended to higher accretion rates in the future by including electron cooling and proton-electron Coulomb collisions. We present a suite of tests showing that our method recovers the correct solution for electron heating under a range of circumstances, including strong shocks and driven turbulence. Our initial applications to axisymmetric simulations of accreting black holes show that (1)~physically-motivated electron heating rates yield electron temperature distributions significantly different from the constant electron to proton temperature ratios assumed in previous work, with higher electron temperatures concentrated in the coronal region between the disc and the jet; (2)~electron thermal conduction significantly modifies the electron temperature in the inner regions of black hole accretion flows if the effective electron mean free path is larger than the local scale-height of the disc (at least for the initial conditions and magnetic field configurations we study). The methods developed in this work are important for producing more realistic predictions for the emission from accreting black holes such as Sagittarius A* and M87; these applications will be explored in future work.

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arXiv2015

Energy Dependence of Synchrotron X-Ray Rims in Tycho's Supernova Remnant

Several young supernova remnants exhibit thin X-ray bright rims of synchrotron radiation at their forward shocks. Thin rims require strong magnetic field amplification beyond simple shock compression if rim widths are only limited by electron energy losses. But, magnetic field damping behind the shock could produce similarly thin rims with less extreme field amplification. Variation of rim width with energy may thus discriminate between competing influences on rim widths. We measured rim widths around Tycho's supernova remnant in 5 energy bands using an archival 750 ks Chandra observation. Rims narrow with increasing energy and are well described by either loss-limited or damped scenarios, so X-ray rim width-energy dependence does not uniquely specify a model. But, radio counterparts to thin rims are not loss-limited and better reflect magnetic field structure. Joint radio and X-ray modeling favors magnetic damping in Tycho's SNR with damping lengths ~1--5% of remnant radius and magnetic field strengths ~50--400 $μ$G assuming Bohm diffusion. X-ray rim widths are ~1% of remnant radius, somewhat smaller than inferred damping lengths. Electron energy losses are important in all models of X-ray rims, suggesting that the distinction between loss-limited and damped models is blurred in soft X-rays. All loss-limited and damping models require magnetic fields $\gtrsim$ 20 $μ$G, affirming the necessity of magnetic field amplification beyond simple compression.

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arXiv2014

Magnetic-Field Amplification in the Thin X-ray Rims of SN1006

Several young supernova remnants (SNRs), including SN1006, emit synchrotron X-rays in narrow filaments, hereafter thin rims, along their periphery. The widths of these rims imply 50 to 100 $μ$G fields in the region immediately behind the shock, far larger than expected for the interstellar medium compressed by unmodified shocks, assuming electron radiative losses limit rim widths. However, magnetic-field damping could also produce thin rims. Here we review the literature on rim width calculations, summarizing the case for magnetic-field amplification. We extend these calculations to include an arbitrary power-law dependence of the diffusion coefficient on energy, $D \propto E^μ$. Loss-limited rim widths should shrink with increasing photon energy, while magnetic-damping models predict widths almost independent of photon energy. We use these results to analyze Chandra observations of SN 1006, in particular the southwest limb. We parameterize the full widths at half maximum (FWHM) in terms of energy as FWHM $\propto E^{m_E}_γ$. Filament widths in SN1006 decrease with energy; $m_E \sim -0.3$ to $-0.8$, implying magnetic field amplification by factors of 10 to 50, above the factor of 4 expected in strong unmodified shocks. For SN 1006, the rapid shrinkage rules out magnetic damping models. It also favors short mean free paths (small diffusion coefficients) and strong dependence of $D$ on energy ($μ\ge 1$).

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