High-Frequency and Type-C QPOs from Oscillating, Precessing Hot, Thick Flow

Motivated by recent studies showing an apparent correlation between the high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) and the low-frequency, type-C QPO in low-mass, black hole X-ray binaries (LMXBs), we explore a model that explains all three QPOs in terms of an oscillating, precessing hot flow in the truncated-disk geometry. Our model favors attributing the two high-frequency QPOs, often occurring in a near 3:2 frequency ratio, to the breathing and vertical epicyclic frequency modes of the hot, thick flow, although we can not rule out the Keplerian and m=-1 radial epicyclic modes. In either case, the type-C QPO is attributed to precession. The correlation of the QPOs comes from the fact that all three frequencies are associated with the same geometrical structure. While the exact QPO frequencies are sensitive to the black hole mass and spin, their evolution over the course of an outburst is mainly tied to the truncation radius between the geometrically thin, optically thick disk and the inner, hot flow. We show that, in the case of the LMXB GRO J1655-40, this model can explain the one simultaneous observation of all three QPOs and that an extrapolation of the model appears to match lower frequency observations where only two of the three components are seen. Thus, this model may be able to unify multiple QPO observations using the properties of a single, simple, geometrical model.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted to MNRA

Oscillation modes of relativistic slender tori

Accretion flows with pressure gradients permit the existence of standing waves which may be responsible for observed quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO's) in X-ray binaries. We present a comprehensive treatment of the linear modes of a hydrodynamic, non-self-gravitating, polytropic slender torus, with arbitrary specific angular momentum distribution, orbiting in an arbitrary axisymmetric spacetime with reflection symmetry. We discuss the physical nature of the modes, present general analytic expressions and illustrations for those which are low order, and show that they can be excited in numerical simulations of relativistic tori. The mode oscillation spectrum simplifies dramatically for near Keplerian angular momentum distributions, which appear to be generic in global simulations of the magnetorotational instability. We discuss our results in light of observations of high frequency QPO's, and point out the existence of a new pair of modes which can be in an approximate 3:2 ratio for arbitrary black hole spins and angular momentum distributions, provided the torus is radiation pressure dominated. This mode pair consists of the axisymmetric vertical epicyclic mode and the lowest order axisymmetric breathing mode.Comment: submitted to MNRA

Neutron starquakes and the nature of gamma-ray bursts

The possibility that gamma-ray bursts originate from quakes deep in the solid crust of a neutron star is investigated. Seismic waves are radiated if shear stress is relieved by brittle fracture. However they cannot propagate directly to the surface but are temporarily trapped below a reflecting layer. The shaking of the stellar surface couples the seismic waves to Alfven waves which propagate out into the magnetosphere. The crust-magnetosphere transmission coefficient strongly increases with wave frequency and magnetic field strength. Alfven wave luminosities sufficient to power galactic gamma-ray bursts are possible if magnetic fields greater than 100 billion G cover at least part of the stellar surface. As the Alfven waves propagate out into the low density magnetosphere, they become increasingly charge starved, thereby accelerating particles to relativistic energies

Quasi-Periodic Oscillations from Magnetorotational Turbulence

Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the X-ray lightcurves of accreting neutron star and black hole binaries have been widely interpreted as being due to standing wave modes in accretion disks. These disks are thought to be highly turbulent due to the magnetorotational instability (MRI). We study wave excitation by MRI turbulence in the shearing box geometry. We demonstrate that axisymmetric sound waves and radial epicyclic motions driven by MRI turbulence give rise to narrow, distinct peaks in the temporal power spectrum. Inertial waves, on the other hand, do not give rise to distinct peaks which rise significantly above the continuum noise spectrum set by MRI turbulence, even when the fluid motions are projected onto the eigenfunctions of the modes. This is a serious problem for QPO models based on inertial waves.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. submitted to ap

Neutron starquake models for gamma-ray bursts

We assess neutron starquake models for γ-ray bursts. The elastic energy the crust can store is sufficient to account for that radiated in a single burst, but it is insufficient to supply the ≳ 10^6 bursts each star produces over its lifetime, and so it must be replenished. Seismic waves are radiated if shear stress is relieved by brittle fracture. However they cannot propagate directly to the surface but are temporarily trapped below a reflecting layer. Between the reflecting layer and the surface the displacement amplitude of the wave is nearly constant and the strain is very small. At low frequencies, ≾ 10^4 Hz, the reflection is associated with an evanescent zone. At high frequencies, ≳ 10^4 Hz, the reflection occurs where the magnetic field stress starts to dominate the crustal rigidity. The shaking of the stellar surface couples the seismic waves to Alfén waves which propagate out into the magnetosphere. At low frequencies, the coupling coefficient, T, is proportional to the square of the magnetic field, B, and increases with the seventh power of the wave frequency, v. At high frequencies, T is proportional to B^(4/7)v^(3/7). Alfvén wave luminosities sufficient to power Galactic γ-ray bursts are possible if magnetic fields ≳ 10^(11) G cover at least part of the stellar surface. The conversion of Alfvén waves into γ-rays may occur if the waves are charge-starved or if their amplitudes approach that of the background magnetic field

Excitation of Trapped Waves in Simulations of Tilted Black Hole Accretion Disks with Magnetorotational Turbulence

We analyze the time dependence of fluid variables in general relativistic, magnetohydrodynamic simulations of accretion flows onto a black hole with dimensionless spin parameter a/M=0.9. We consider both the case where the angular momentum of the accretion material is aligned with the black hole spin axis (an untilted flow) and where it is misaligned by 15 degrees (a tilted flow). In comparison to the untilted simulation, the tilted simulation exhibits a clear excess of inertial variability, that is, variability at frequencies below the local radial epicyclic frequency. We further study the radial structure of this inertial-like power by focusing on a radially extended band at 118 (M/10Msol)^-1 Hz found in each of the three analyzed fluid variables. The three dimensional density structure at this frequency suggests that the power is a composite oscillation whose dominant components are an over dense clump corotating with the background flow, a low order inertial wave, and a low order inertial-acoustic wave. Our results provide preliminary confirmation of earlier suggestions that disk tilt can be an important excitation mechanism for inertial waves.Comment: 8 Pages, 6 Figures, accepted for publication in Ap

On the ionisation fraction in protoplanetary disks III. The effect of X-ray flares on gas-phase chemistry

Context. Recent observations of the X-ray emission from T Tauri stars in the Orion nebula have shown that they undergo frequent outbursts in their X-ray luminosity. These X-ray flares are characterised by increases in luminosity by two orders of magnitude, a typical duration of less than one day, and a significant hardening of the X-ray spectrum. Aims. It is unknown what effect these X-ray flares will have on the ionisation fraction and dead-zone structure in protoplanetary disks. We present the results of calculations designed to address this question. Methods. We have performed calculations of the ionisation fraction in a standard $\alpha$-disk model using two different chemical reaction networks. We include in our models ionisation due to X-rays from the central star, and calculate the time-dependent ionisation fraction and dead--zone structure for the inner 10 AU of a protoplanetary disk model. Results. We find that the disk response to X-ray flares depends on whether the plasma temperature increases during flares and/or whether heavy metals (such as magnesium) are present in the gas phase. Under favourable conditions the outer disk dead--zone can disappear altogether,and the dead-zone located between 0.5 < R < 2 AU can disappear and reappear in phase with the X-ray luminosity. Conclusions. X-ray flares can have a significant effect on the dead-zone structure in protoplanetary disks. Caution is required in interpreting this result as the duration of X-ray bursts is considerably shorter than the growth time of MHD turbulence due to the magnetorotational instability.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A &

On the Ionisation Fraction in Protoplanetary Disks II: The Effect of Turbulent Mixing on Gas--phase Chemistry

We calculate the ionisation fraction in protostellar disk models using two different gas-phase chemical networks, and examine the effect of turbulent mixing by modelling the diffusion of chemical species vertically through the disk. The aim is to determine in which regions of the disk gas can couple to a magnetic field and sustain MHD turbulence. We find that the effect of diffusion depends crucially on the elemental abundance of heavy metals (magnesium) included in the chemical model. In the absence of heavy metals, diffusion has essentially no effect on the ionisation structure of the disks, as the recombination time scale is much shorter than the turbulent diffusion time scale. When metals are included with an elemental abundance above a threshold value, the diffusion can dramatically reduce the size of the magnetically decoupled region, or even remove it altogther. For a complex chemistry the elemental abundance of magnesium required to remove the dead zone is 10(-10) - 10(-8). We also find that diffusion can modify the reaction pathways, giving rise to dominant species when diffusion is switched on that are minor species when diffusion is absent. This suggests that there may be chemical signatures of diffusive mixing that could be used to indirectly detect turbulent activity in protoplanetary disks. We find examples of models in which the dead zone in the outer disk region is rendered deeper when diffusion is switched on. Overall these results suggest that global MHD turbulence in protoplanetary disks may be self-sustaining under favourable circumstances, as turbulent mixing can help maintain the ionisation fraction above that necessary to ensure good coupling between the gas and magnetic field.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in A &

Epicyclic oscillations of non-slender fluid tori around Kerr black holes

Considering epicyclic oscillations of pressure-supported perfect fluid tori orbiting Kerr black holes we examine non-geodesic (pressure) effects on the epicyclic modes properties. Using a perturbation method we derive fully general relativistic formulas for eigenfunctions and eigenfrequencies of the radial and vertical epicyclic modes of a slightly non-slender, constant specific angular momentum torus up to second-order accuracy with respect to the torus thickness. The behaviour of the axisymmetric and lowest-order ($m=\pm 1$) non-axisymmetric epicyclic modes is investigated. For an arbitrary black hole spin we find that, in comparison with the (axisymmetric) epicyclic frequencies of free test particles, non-slender tori receive negative pressure corrections and exhibit thus lower frequencies. Our findings are in qualitative agreement with the results of a recent pseudo-Newtonian study of analogous problem defined within the Paczy{\'n}ski-Wiita potential. Implications of our results on the high-frequency QPO models dealing with epicyclic oscillations are addressed.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figure