Numerical Simulation of Vertical Oscillations in an Axisymmetric Thick Accretion Flow around a Black Hole

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to demonstrate that the centrifugal barrier in black hole accretion flows causes vertical oscillations in the boundary layer, influencing outflow rates and potentially explaining observed quasi-periodic oscillations.

Contribution

First to show through grid-based simulations that the centrifugal barrier induces vertical oscillations in accretion flows around black holes, affecting outflow dynamics.

Findings

CENBOL oscillates vertically more with higher angular momentum.

Outflow rates are anti-correlated between upper and lower halves.

Oscillations are absent in low angular momentum flows.

Abstract

We study time evolution of rotating, axisymmetric, two dimensional inviscid accretion flows around black holes using a grid based finite difference method. We do not use reflection symmetry on the equatorial plane in order to inspect if the disk along with the centrifugal barrier oscillated vertically. In the inviscid limit, we find that the CENtrifugal pressure supported BOundary Layer (CENBOL) is oscillating vertically, more so, when the specific angular momentum is higher. As a result, the rate of outflow produced from the CENBOL, also oscillates. Indeed, the outflow rates in the upper half and the lower half are found to be anti-correlated. We repeat the exercise for a series of specific angular momentum {\lambda} of the flow in order to demonstrate effects of the centrifugal force on this interesting behaviour. We find that, as predicted in theoretical models of disks in vertical equilibrium, the CENBOL is produced only when the centrifugal force is significant and more specifically, when {\lambda} > 1.5. Outflow rate itself is found to increase with {\lambda} as well and so is the oscillation amplitude. The cause of oscillation appears to be due to the interaction among the back flow from the centrifugal barrier, the outflowing winds and the inflow. For low angular momentum, the back flow as well as the oscillation are missing. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such an oscillating solution is found with an well-tested grid based finite difference code and such a solution could be yet another reason of why Quasi-Periodic Oscillations should be observed in black hole candidates which are accreting low angular momentum transonic flows.