Blandford-Znajek Jets and the Total Angular Momentum Evolution of a Black Hole Connected to a Cosmic String

TL;DR

This paper explores how cosmic strings attached to rotating black holes influence jet power, spin evolution, and angular momentum, proposing potential observational signatures for cosmic strings based on these effects.

Contribution

It introduces a model analyzing the impact of cosmic string tension on black hole jets, spin-down, and disk alignment, revealing new dependencies and potential detection methods.

Findings

Jet energy flux is inversely proportional to the square of cosmic string tension.

Black hole spin-down can occur for both small and large string tensions, more likely at higher tensions.

Jet alignment and disk orientation depend on the cosmic string's presence and properties.

Abstract

Rotating black holes with strong magnetic fields lead to an outward energy flux in the form of jets governed by the Blandford-Znajek mechanism. These jets depend on factors such as accretion rate, magnetic flux and the spin of the black hole. When such rotating black holes get attached to a cosmic string, it leads to a further rotational energy extraction, leading to a reduced spin. We consider such a system and investigate the effect this reduced spin has on the jet power and its dependence on the cosmic string tension, $\mu$. It is shown that for a constant magnetic flux and accretion rate, the jet energy flux is inversely proportional to $\mu^2$. Interestingly, the rate of this energy flux varies with time and is again dependent on $\mu$. We also study the total angular momentum evolution of the black hole by considering four major effects: accretion, jets, cosmic string energy extraction and the Bardeen-Petterson effect. Further, we attempt to analyse the condition for the spin-down of a black hole due to these effects and find out that it is possible for both small and large string tensions, with a higher possibility for larger string tensions. Another interesting phenomenon that has been proposed is the alignment of the jet with the cosmic string. Additionally, the Bardeen-Petterson effect also leads to alignment or misalignment of the inner and outer disks depending on the alignment of the string. In this manuscript we propose that these results might have an observable effect and hence could serve as a potential detection method for cosmic strings.