Magnetisation of partially ionised dusty disks

Abstract

The self-magnetisation of circumstellar disks is considered within an appropriate multifluid description. These disks are composed of ionised and neutral gas as well as of a charged dust component. The most important equation in this context is the general Ohm’s law that includes a magnetic field generation term due to relative dust–neutral fluid velocities. We show that circumstellar disks can carry their own significant magnetic fields. As long as the stellar gravitation sustains the accretion flow, the self-magnetisation of the disk does not saturate until the field strength reaches its local equipartition value. The magnetic field generation process is illustrated by idealised multifluid simulations that are not restricted to a kinematic description, but model the process in a self-consistent way.