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Abstract

The propeller regime of disk accretion to a rapidly rotating magnetized star is investigated here for the first time by axisymmetric 2.5D magnetohydrodynamic simulations. An expanded, closed magnetosphere forms in which the magnetic field is predominantly toroidal. A smaller fraction of the star's poloidal magnetic flux inflates vertically, forming a magnetically dominated tower. Matter accumulates in the equatorial region outside magnetosphere and accretes to the star quasi-periodically through elongated funnel streams which cause the magnetic field to reconnect. The star spins-down owing to the interaction of the closed magnetosphere with the disk. For the considered conditions, the spin-down torque varies with the angular velocity of the star omega* as omega*^1.3 for fixed mass accretion rate. The propeller stage may be important in the evolution of X-ray pulsars, cataclysmic variables and young stars. In particular, it may explain the present slow rotation of the classical T Tauri stars.

Details

1009240
Title
The Propeller Regime of Disk Accretion to a Rapidly Rotating Magnetized Star
Publication title
arXiv.org; Ithaca
Publication year
2005
Publication date
Feb 14, 2005
Section
Astrophysics
Publisher
Cornell University Library, arXiv.org
Source
arXiv.org
Place of publication
Ithaca
Country of publication
United States
University/institution
Cornell University Library arXiv.org
e-ISSN
2331-8422
Source type
Working Paper
Language of publication
English
Document type
Working Paper
Publication history
 
 
Online publication date
2009-11-10
Milestone dates
2005-02-14 (Submission v1)
Publication history
 
 
   First posting date
10 Nov 2009
ProQuest document ID
2089039876
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/working-papers/propeller-regime-disk-accretion-rapidly-rotating/docview/2089039876/se-2?accountid=208611
Full text outside of ProQuest
Copyright
Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the associated terms available at http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0502266.
Last updated
2023-02-28
Database
2 databases
  • ProQuest One Academic
  • ProQuest One Academic