Advection of Matter and B-Fields in Alpha-Discs

TL;DR

This study uses axisymmetric MHD simulations to explore how matter and magnetic fields are advected in turbulent accretion discs around unmagnetized stars, revealing early magnetic dominance in accretion and later viscous effects.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed simulation-based analysis of magnetic and matter advection in alpha-discs, highlighting the evolving role of magnetic fields in accretion processes.

Findings

Early magnetic field twisting leads to jet and wind formation.

Magnetic contribution to accretion speed is initially twice the viscous contribution.

Magnetic influence diminishes over time as reconnection reduces field strength.

Abstract

We have carried out and analyzed a set of axisymmetric MHD simulations of the evolution of a turbulent/diffusive accretion disc around an initially unmagnetized star. The disc is initially threaded by a weak magnetic field where the magnetic pressure is significantly less than the kinetic pressure in the disc. The viscosity and magnetic diffusivity are modelled by two "alpha" parameters, while the coronal region above the disc is treated using ideal MHD. The initial magnetic field is taken to consist of three poloidal field loops threading the disc. The motivation for this study is to understand the advection of disc matter and magnetic field by the turbulent/diffusive disc. At early times the innermost field loop twists and its field lines become open. The twisting of the opened field lines leads to the formation of both an inner collimated, magnetically-dominated jet, and at larger distances from the axis a matter dominated uncollimated wind. For later times, the strength of the magnetic field decreases owing to field reconnection and annihilation in the disc. For the early times, we have derived from the simulations both the matter accretion speed in the disc and the accretion speed of the magnetic field. We show that the derived matter accretion speed agrees approximately with the predictions of a model where the accretion speed is the sum of two terms, one due to the disc's viscosity (which gives a radial outflow of angular momentum in the disc), and a second due to the twisted magnetic field at the disc's surface (which gives a vertical outflow of angular momentum). For early times we find that the magnetic contribution is roughly twice the viscous contribution for the case where the alpha parameters are both equal to 0.1. At later times the magnetic contribution to the matter speed becomes small compared to the viscous contribution.