The Blandford-Znajek theory revisited

TL;DR

This paper revisits the Blandford-Znajek theory to explore the energy exchange between rotating black holes, ergospheres, and accretion disks, offering insights into jet formation, AGN types, and binary mergers.

Contribution

It introduces a new perspective on the BZ power as a function of the slip factor, linking black hole and magnetic field dynamics to various astrophysical phenomena.

Findings

Different stages explain observed AGN jet types

Insights into black hole and disk feedback mechanisms

Potential understanding of binary AGN evolution

Abstract

The Blandford-Znajek theory (1977) is generally studied to understand the generation of powerful relativistic jets. However, it could also give important insights about the feedback between a rotating black hole, its ergosphere, and a surrounding accretion disk. The energy flow between these systems could be understood by studying the BZ power as a function of a slip factor, which in turn is defined as a function of the angular velocity of the black hole and the angular velocity of the magnetic field lines (generally anchored to the disk). The distinct stages could explain the different types of observed AGN (with/without jets), but could also help understanding the evolution of the merging of binary AGN.