The launching condition of a jet driven by the magnetic field and radiation pressure of an accretion disc

TL;DR

This paper investigates how magnetic fields and radiation pressure influence the launching of jets from accretion discs, revealing conditions under which cold gas can be ejected and constraints on jet power.

Contribution

It introduces a new criterion for jet launching considering both magnetic and radiation forces, and derives limits on magnetic field strength and jet power in radiation pressure dominated discs.

Findings

Radiation pressure aids in launching cold gas jets from accretion discs.

Critical angular velocity decreases with increasing disc thickness H/R.

Stricter constraints on maximum jet power than traditional equipartition models.

Abstract

We find that the cold gas can be magnetically launched from the disc surface with the help of the radiation pressure if the angular velocity of the radiation pressure dominated accretion disc is greater than a critical value, which decreases with increasing the disc thickness H/R (radiation pressure). This indicates the force exerted by the radiation from the disc indeed helps launching the outflow. The rotational velocity of the gas in the disc depends on the strength of the magnetic field threading the disc and the inclination B_z/B_r of the field line at the disc surface. The launching condition for the cold gas at the disc surface sets an upper limit on the magnetic field strength, which is a function of the field line inclination B_z/B_r and the disc thickness H/R. This implies a more strict constraint on the maximal jet power can be extracted from a radiation pressure dominated accretion disc than that derived conventionally on the equipartition assumption.