Black hole outflows initiated by a large-scale magnetic field

Abstract

Context. Accreting black hole sources show variable outflows at different mass scales. For instance, in the case of galactic nuclei, our own Galactic center Sgr A* exhibits flares and outbursts in the X-ray and infrared bands. Recent studies suggest that the inner magnetospheres of these sources have a pronounced effect on these emissions. Aims. Accreting plasma carries the frozen-in magnetic flux along with it down to the black hole horizon. During the infall, the magnetic field intensifies, and this can lead to a magnetically arrested state. We investigate the competing effects of inflows at the black hole horizon and the outflows that develop in the accreting plasma through the action of the magnetic field in the inner magnetosphere, and we determine the implications of these effects. Methods. We started with a spherically symmetric Bondi-type inflow and introduced a magnetic field. In order to understand the influence of the initial configuration, we started the computations with an aligned magnetic field with respect to the rotation axis of the black hole. Then we proceeded to the case of magnetic fields that are inclined to the rotation axis of the black hole. We employed the 2D and 3D versions of the code HARM for the aligned field models and used the 3D version for the inclined field. We compared the results of computations with each other. Results. We observe that the magnetic lines of force start to accrete with the plasma while an equatorial intermittent outflow develops. This outflow continues to push some material away from the black hole in the equatorial plane, while some other material is ejected in the vertical direction from the plane. In consequence, the accretion rate fluctuates as well. The direction of the black hole spin prevails at later stages. It determines the flow geometry near the event horizon. On larger scales, however, the flow geometry remains influenced by the initial inclination of the field.