Mass Accretion Process Research Articles

Hard X-Ray View of HCG 16 (Arp 318)

Abstract We report the hard X-ray (3–50 keV) view of the compact group HCG 16 (Arp 318) observed with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). NGC 838 and NGC 839 are undetected at energies above 8 keV, showing no evidence of heavily obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs). This confirms that these are starburst-dominant galaxies as previously suggested. We perform a comprehensive broadband (0.3–50 keV) X-ray spectral analysis of the interacting galaxies NGC 833 and NGC 835, using data of NuSTAR, Chandra, and XMM-Newton observed on multiple epochs from 2000 to 2015. NuSTAR detects the transmitted continua of low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs) in NGC 833 and NGC 835 with line-of-sight column densities of ≈3 × 1023 cm−2 and intrinsic 2–10 keV luminosities of ≈3 × 1041 erg s−1. The iron-Kα to hard X-ray luminosity ratios of NGC 833 and NGC 835 suggest that their tori are moderately developed, which may have been triggered by the galaxy interactions. We find that NGC 835 underwent long-term variability in both intrinsic luminosity (by a factor of 5) and absorption (by ΔN H ≈ 2 × 1023 cm−2). We discuss the relation between the X-ray and total infrared luminosities in local LLAGNs hosted by spiral galaxies. The large diversity in their ratios is consistent with the general idea that the mass accretion process in the nucleus and the star-forming activity in the disk are not strongly coupled, regardless of the galaxy environment.

Accreting CO material onto ONe white dwarfs towards accretion-induced collapse

The final outcomes of accreting ONe white dwarfs (ONe WDs) have been studied for several decades, but there are still some issues that are not resolved. Recently, some studies suggested that the deflagration of oxygen would occur for accreting ONe WDs with Chandrasekhar masses. In this paper, we aim to investigate whether ONe WDs can experience accretion-induced collapse (AIC) or explosions when their masses approach the Chandrasekhar limit. Employing the stellar evolution code Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA), we simulate the long-term evolution of ONe WDs with accreting CO material. The ONe WDs undergo weak multicycle carbon flashes during the mass-accretion process, leading to mass increase of the WDs. We found that different initial WD masses and mass-accretion rates influence the evolution of central density and temperature. However, the central temperature cannot reach the explosive oxygen ignition temperature due to neutrino cooling. This work implies that the final outcome of accreting ONe WDs is electron-capture induced collapse rather than thermonuclear explosion.

A Detached Protostellar Disk around a ∼0.2 M⊙ Protostar in a Possible Site of a Multiple Star Formation in a Dynamical Environment in Taurus

Abstract We report ALMA observations in 0.87 mm continuum and 12CO (J = 3–2) toward a very low-luminosity (<0.1 L ⊙) protostar, which is deeply embedded in one of the densest cores, MC27/L1521F, in Taurus with an indication of multiple star formation in a highly dynamical environment. The beam size corresponds to ∼20 au, and we have clearly detected blueshifted/redshifted gas in 12CO associated with the protostar. The spatial/velocity distributions of the gas show there is a rotating disk with a size scale of ∼10 au, a disk mass of ∼10−4 M ⊙, and a central stellar mass of ∼0.2 M ⊙. The observed disk seems to be detached from the surrounding dense gas, although it is still embedded at the center of the core whose density is ∼106 cm−3. The current low-outflow activity and the very low luminosity indicate that the mass accretion rate onto the protostar is extremely low in spite of a very early stage of star formation. We may be witnessing the final stage of the formation of ∼0.2 M ⊙ protostar. However, we cannot explain the observed low luminosity with the standard pre-main-sequence evolutionary track unless we assume cold accretion with an extremely small initial radius of the protostar (∼0.65 ). These facts may challenge our current understanding of the low mass star formation, in particular the mass accretion process onto the protostar and the circumstellar disk.

Accreting He-rich material onto carbon-oxygen white dwarfs until explosive carbon ignition

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) play an important role in studies of cosmology and galactic chemical evolution. They are believed to be thermonuclear explosions of carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (CO WDs) when their masses approach the Chandrasekar (Ch) mass limit. However, it is still not completely understood how a CO WD increases its mass to the Ch-mass limit in the classical single-degenerate (SD) model. In this paper, we studied the mass accretion process in the SD model to examine whether the WD can explode as an SN Ia. Employing the stellar evolution code called modules for experiments in stellar astrophysics (MESA), we simulated the He accretion process onto CO WDs. We found that the WD can increase its mass to the Ch-mass limit through the SD model and explosive carbon ignition finally occurs in its center, which will lead to an SN Ia explosion. Our results imply that SNe Ia can be produced from the SD model through steady helium accretion. Moreover, this work can provide initial input parameters for explosion models of SNe Ia.

Operation of the jet feedback mechanism (JFM) in intermediate luminosity optical transients (ILOTs)

We follow the premise that most intermediate luminosity optical transients (ILOTs) are powered by rapid mass accretion onto a main sequence star, and study the effects of jets launched by an accretion disk. The disk is formed due to large specific angular momentum of the accreted mass. The two opposite jets might expel some of the mass from the reservoir of gas that feeds the disk, and therefore reduce and shorten the mass accretion process. We argue that by this process ILOTs limit their luminosity and might even shut themselves off in this negative jet feedback mechanism (JFM). The group of ILOTs is a new member of a large family of astrophysical objects whose activity is regulated by the operation of the JFM.

Multiscale mass transport inz ∼6 galactic discs: fuelling black holes

By using AMR cosmological hydrodynamic N-body zoom-in simulations, with the RAMSES code, we studied the mass transport processes onto galactic nuclei from high redshift up to $z\sim6$. Due to the large dynamical range of the simulations we were able to study the mass accretion process on scales from $\sim50[kpc]$ to $\sim$ few $1[pc]$. We studied the BH growth on to the galactic center in relation with the mass transport processes associated to both the Reynolds stress and the gravitational stress on the disc. Such methodology allowed us to identify the main mass transport process as a function of the scales of the problem. We found that in simulations that include radiative cooling and SNe feedback, the SMBH grows at the Eddington limit for some periods of time presenting $\langle f_{EDD}\rangle\approx 0.5$ throughout its evolution. The $\alpha$ parameter is dominated by the Reynolds term, $\alpha_R$, with $\alpha_R\gg 1$. The gravitational part of the $\alpha$ parameter, $\alpha_G$, has an increasing trend toward the galactic center at higher redshifts, with values $\alpha_G\sim 1$ at radii <$\sim$ few $ 10^1[pc]$ contributing to the BH fueling. In terms of torques, we also found that gravity has an increasing contribution toward the galactic center at earlier epochs with a mixed contribution above $\sim 100 [pc]$. This complementary work between pressure gradients and gravitational potential gradients allows an efficient mass transport on the disc with average mass accretion rates of the order $\sim$ few $1 [M_{\odot}/yr]$. These level of SMBH accretion rates found in our cosmological simulations are needed in all models of SMBH growth that attempt to explain the formation of redshift $6-7$ quasars.

Super-Eddington wind scenario for the progenitors of type Ia supernovae: Accreting He-rich matter onto white dwarfs

Context. Supernovae of type Ia (SNe Ia) are believed to be thermonuclear explosions of carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (CO WDs). However, the mass accretion process onto CO WDs is still not completely understood.

Mass Accretion Processes in Young Stellar Objects: Role of Intense Flaring Activity

According to the magnetospheric accretion scenario, young low-mass stars are surrounded by circumstellar disks which they interact with through accretion of mass. The accretion builds up the star to its nal mass and is also believed to power the mass out ows, which may in turn have a signicant role in removing the excess angular momentum from the star-disk system. Although the process of mass accretion is a critical aspect of star formation, some of its mechanisms are still to be fully understood. On the other hand, strong aring activity is a common feature of young stellar objects (YSOs). In the Sun, such events give rise to perturbations of the interplanetary medium. Similar but more energetic phenomena occur in YSOs and may in uence the circumstellar environment. In fact, a recent study has shown that an intense flaring activity close to the disk may strongly perturb the stability of circumstellar disks, thus inducing mass accretion episodes (Orlando et al. 2011). Here we review the main results obtained in the eld and the future perspectives.

Dynamical star-disk interaction in the young stellar system V354 Monocerotis

The main goal of this work is to characterize the mass accretion and ejection processes of the classical T Tauri star V354 Mon, a member of the young stellar cluster NGC 2264. In March 2008, photometric and spectroscopic observations of V354 Mon were obtained simultaneously with the CoRoT satellite, the 60 cm telescope at the Observat\'orio Pico dos Dias (LNA - Brazil) equipped with a CCD camera and Johnson/Cousins BVRI filters, and the SOPHIE \'echelle spectrograph at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence (CNRS - France). The light curve of V354 Mon shows periodical minima (P = 5.26 +/- 0.50 days) that vary in depth and width at each rotational cycle. From the analysis of the photometric and spectroscopic data, it is possible to identify correlations between the emission line variability and the light-curve modulation of the young system, such as the occurrence of pronounced redshifted absorption in the H_alpha line at the epoch of minimum flux. This is evidence that during photometric minima we see the accretion funnel projected onto the stellar photosphere in our line of sight, implying that the hot spot coincides with the light-curve minima. We applied models of cold and hot spots and a model of occultation by circumstellar material to investigate the source of the observed photometric variations. We conclude that nonuniformly distributed material in the inner part of the circumstellar disk is the main cause of the photometric modulation, which does not exclude the presence of hot and cold spots at the stellar surface. It is believed that the distortion in the inner part of the disk is created by the dynamical interaction between the stellar magnetosphere, inclined with respect to the rotation axis, and the circumstellar disk, as also observed in the classical T Tauri star AA Tau and predicted by magnetohydrodynamical numerical simulations.

Luminosity-Distances of IUE observed Active Galaxies

AbstractActive galaxies are the most luminous objects observed in the Universe and are believed to be powered by mass accretion processes taking place in the vicinity of the central Super massive black hole (MBH ≥ 108Msun). However, the details of the power generation mechanisms are not understood well yet. In this paper, we are presenting a comparative study of luminosity-distance estimations for the complete sample of active galaxies observed by IUE satellite by different methods. IUE has made UV spectroscopic observations of nearly 400 active galaxies comprising mostly Seyfert 1 galaxies and quasars. We have chosen all the active galaxies observed by IUE satellite for the study of luminosity-distance with redshift. The luminosity-distances (DL) have been calculated using the Hubbles law under non-relativistic and relativistic limits with H0 = 73 Km/sec/Mpc and Terrell (1979) also. We have found that all DL estimations are consistent with each other for z ≤ 1 and diverge for z ≥ 1. The results of cosmological calulator I and II are found to consistent with each other and higher by several factors over cosmological calculator IV and the predictions of the Hubble's law under relativistic case. We observe a kind bimodal distributions in DL for z ≤ 3.5.

The case for massive, evolving winds in black hole X-ray binaries

In the last decade, high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy has revolutionized our understanding of the role of accretion disk winds in black hole X-ray binaries. Here I present a brief review of the state of wind studies in black hole X-ray binaries, focusing on recent arguments that disk winds are not only extremely massive, but also highly variable. I show how new and archival observations at high timing and spectral resolution continue to highlight the intricate links between the inner accretion flow, relativistic jets, and accretion disk winds. Finally, I discuss methods to infer the driving mechanisms of observed disk winds and their implications for connections between mass accretion and ejection processes.

Chemistry in disks

Turbulence is thought to be a key driver of the evolution of protoplanetary disks, regulating the mass accretion process, the transport of angular momentum, and the growth of dust particles. We intend to determine the magnitude of the turbulent motions in the outer parts (> 100 AU) of the disk surrounding DM Tau. Turbulent motions can be constrained by measuring the nonthermal broadening of line emission from heavy molecules. We used the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer to study emission from the CS molecule in the disk of DM Tau. High spatial (1.4 x 1 ") and spectral resolution (0.126 km/s) CS J=3-2 images provide constraints on the molecule distribution and velocity structure of the disk. A low sensitivity CS J=5-4 image was used in conjunction to evaluate the excitation conditions. We analyzed the data in terms of two parametric disk models, and compared the results with detailed time-dependent chemical simulations. The CS data confirm the relatively low temperature suggested by observations of other simple molecules. The intrinsic linewidth derived from the CS J=3-2 data is much larger than expected from pure thermal broadening. The magnitude of the derived nonthermal component depends only weakly on assumptions about the location of the CS molecules with respect to the disk plane. Our results indicate turbulence with a Mach number around 0.4 - 0.5 in the molecular layer. Geometrical constraints suggest that this layer is located near one scale height, in reasonable agreement with chemical model predictions.

YSO jets in the Galactic plane from UWISH2 - II. Outflow luminosity and length distributions in Serpens and Aquila

Jets and outflows accompany the mass accretion process in protostars and young stellar objects. Using a large and unbiased sample, they can be used to study statistically the local feedback they provide and the typical mass accretion history. Here we analyse such a sample of Molecular Hydrogen emission line Objects in the Serpens and Aquila part of the Galactic Plane. Distances are measured by foreground star counts with an accuracy of 25%. The resulting spacial distribution and outflow luminosities indicate that our objects sample the formation of intermediate mass objects. The outflows are unable to provide a sizeable fraction of energy and momentum to support, even locally, the turbulence levels in their surrounding molecular clouds. The fraction of parsec scale flows is one quarter and the typical dynamical jet age of the order of 1E4yrs. Groups of emission knots are ejected every 1E3yrs. This might indicate that low level accretion rate fluctuations and not FU-Ori type events are responsible for the episodic ejection of material. Better observational estimates of the FU-Ori duty cycle are needed.

Atomic Physics of Raman Scattered He IIλ4332

AbstractRaman scattering of far UV photons with atomic hydrogen is important in studying the mass loss and accretion processes in many symbiotic stars. We present basic atomic physical properties for the inelastic scattering of He II 949 with a hydrogen atom, which results in Raman scattered He II 4332 blueward of H gamma. At line center of He II 949, the total scattering cross section is computed to be σtot = 2.5 × 10−22 cm2 and the branching ratio into the level 2s is 0.12. It is proposed that comparisons of broad Balmer wings and Raman scattered He II features may provide an important diagnostic of far UV continuum around H I Lyman series.

Accretion flow dynamics during the evolution of timing and spectral properties of GX 339-4 during its 2010–11 outburst

The Galactic black-hole candidate GX 339-4 exhibited several outbursts at regular intervals of \sim 2-3 years in the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) era. After remaining in an almost quiescent state for 3 years, it again became X-ray active in 2010 January, continuing to be so over the next \sim 14 months. We study the timing and spectral properties of the black hole candidate (BHC) during its recent outburst using RXTE PCA data, starting from 2010 January 12 to 2011 March 6. Our study provides a comprehensive understanding of the mass accretion processes and properties of the accretion disk of the black hole candidate. The PCA spectra of 2.5-25 keV are mainly fitted with a combination of two components, namely, a disk black body and a power-law. The entire outburst as observed by RXTE, is divided into 4 spectral states, namely, hard, hard-intermediate, soft-intermediate, and soft. Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) were found in 3 out of the 4 states, namely hard, hard-intermediate, and soft-intermediate. The QPO frequencies increase monotonically from 0.102 Hz to 5.692 Hz in the rising phase of the outburst, while during the declining phase QPO frequencies decrease monotonically from 6.420 to 1.149 Hz. The recent outburst of GX 339-4 gives us an opportunity to understand the evolution of the two-component accretion rates starting from the onset to the end of the outburst phase. We found that the QPO frequency variation could be explained by the propagating oscillatory shock model (POS) and the hardness versus intensity variation can be reproduced if we assume that higher viscosity causes the conversion of a low angular momentum disk component into a Keplerian component during the outburst phase. The decline phase starts because of the reduction in the viscosity.

Properties of a thin accretion disk around a rotating non-Kerr black hole

We study the accretion process in the thin disk around a rotating non-Kerr black hole with a deformed parameter and an unbound rotation parameter. Our results show that the presence of the deformed parameter ϵ modifies the standard properties of the disk. For the case in which the black hole is more oblate than a Kerr black hole, the larger deviation leads to the smaller energy flux, the lower radiation temperature and the fainter spectra luminosity in the disk. For the black hole with positive deformed parameter, we find that the effect of the deformed parameter on the disk becomes more complicated. It depends not only on the rotation direction of the black hole and the orbit particles, but also on the sign of the difference between the deformed parameter ϵ and a certain critical value ϵc. These significant features in the mass accretion process may provide a possibility to test the no-hair theorem in the strong-field regime in future astronomical observations.

Photometric determination of the mass accretion rates of pre-mainsequence stars - III. Results in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We present a multi-wavelength study of three star forming regions, spanning the age range 1-14 Myr, located between the 30 Doradus complex and supernova SN1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We reliably identify about 1000 pre-main sequence (PMS) star candidates actively undergoing mass accretion and estimate their stellar properties and mass accretion rate (Macc). Our measurements represent the largest Macc dataset of low-metallicity stars presented so far. As such, they offer a unique opportunity to study on a statistical basis the mass accretion process in the LMC and, more in general, the evolution of the mass accretion process around low-metallicity stars. We find that the typical \dot{M} of PMS stars in the LMC is higher than for galactic PMS stars of the same mass, independently of their age. Taking into account the caveats of isochronal age and \dot{M} estimates, the difference in Macc between the LMC and our Galaxy appears to be about an order of magnitude. We review the main mechanisms of disk dispersal and find indications that typically higher Macc are to be expected in low-metallicity environments. However, many issues of this scenario need to be clarified by future observations and modeling. We also find that, in the mass range 1-2 M_sun, the Macc of PMS stars in the LMC increases with stellar mass as \dot{M}acc\proptoM^b, with b \approx1, i.e. slower than the second power low found for galactic PMS stars in the same mass regime.

Infall and outflow within 400 AU from a high-mass protostar

Observational signatures of infalling envelopes and outflowing material in early stages of protostellar evolution and at small radii from the protostar are essential to progress in the understanding of the mass-accretion process in star formation. In this Letter, we report a detailed study on the accretion and outflow structure around a protostar in the well-known high-mass star-forming region AFGL 5142. We focus on the mm source MM–1, which exhibits hot-core chemistry, radio continuum emission, and strong water (H2O) and methanol (CH3OH) masers. Remarkably, our Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of molecular masers over six years provided us with the 3D velocity field of circumstellar molecular gas with a resolution of 0.001–0.005′′ and at radii < 0.′′23 (or 400 AU) from the protostar. In particular, our measurements of CH3OH maser emission for the first time provided a direct measurement of the infall of a molecular envelope (radius of 300 AU and velocity of 5 km s-1) onto an intermediate- to high-mass protostar. We estimate an infall rate of 6 × 10-4 n8 M⊙ yr-1, where n8 is the ambient volume density in units of 108 cm-3 (required for maser excitation). In addition, our measurements of the H2O maser (and radio continuum) emission identify a collimated bipolar molecular outflow (and ionized jet) from MM–1. The evidence of simultaneous accretion and outflow at small spatial scales makes AFGL 5142 an extremely compelling target for high-angular resolution studies of high-mass star formation.

Thin accretion disk around a Kaluza–Klein black hole with squashed horizons

We study the accretion process in the thin disk around a squashed Kaluza–Klein black hole and probe the effects of the extra dimensional scale ρ0 on the physical properties of the disk. Our results show that with the increase of the parameter ρ0, the energy flux, the conversion efficiency, the radiation temperature, the spectra luminosity and the spectra cut-off frequency of the thin accretion disk decrease, but the inner border of the disk increases. This implies that the extra dimension scale imprints in the mass accretion process in the disk.

Mass accretion to young stars triggered by flaring activity in circumstellar discs

Young low-mass stars are characterized by ejection of collimated outflows and by circumstellar disks which they interact with through accretion of mass. The accretion builds up the star to its final mass and is also believed to power the mass outflows, which may in turn remove the excess angular momentum from the star-disk system. However, although the process of mass accretion is a critical aspect of star formation, some of its mechanisms are still to be fully understood. A point not considered to date and relevant for the accretion process is the evidence of very energetic and frequent flaring events in these stars. Flares may easily perturb the stability of the disks, thus influencing the transport of mass and angular momentum. Here we report on three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic modeling of the evolution of a flare with an idealized non--equilibrium initial condition occurring near the disk around a rotating magnetized star. The model takes into account the stellar magnetic field, the gravitational force, the viscosity of the disk, the magnetic-field-oriented thermal conduction (including the effects of heat flux saturation), the radiative losses from optically thin plasma, and the coronal heating. We show that, during its first stage of evolution, the flare gives rise to a hot magnetic loop linking the disk to the star. The disk is strongly perturbed by the flare: disk material evaporates under the effect of the thermal conduction and an overpressure wave propagates through the disk. When the overpressure reaches the opposite side of the disk, a funnel flow starts to develop there, accreting substantial disk material onto the young star from the side of the disk opposite to the flare.