Chaotic magnetic disconnections trigger flux eruptions in accretion flows channeled onto magnetically saturated Kerr black holes

¹ Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bartycka 18, 00-716 Warsaw, Poland
² Astronomical Observatory, University of Warsaw, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, 00-478 Warsaw, Poland
³ Center for Theoretical Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland

^⋆ Corresponding author; knalew@camk.edu.pl

Received: 24 April 2024
Accepted: 8 October 2024

Abstract

Context. Magnetized accretion flow onto a black hole (BH) may lead to the accumulation of poloidal magnetic flux across its horizon, which for high BH spin can power far-reaching relativistic jets. The BH magnetic flux is subject to a saturation mechanism by means of magnetic flux eruptions involving relativistic magnetic reconnection. Such accretion flows have been described as magnetically arrested disks (MAD) or magnetically choked accretion flows (MCAF).

Aims. The main goal of this work is to describe the onset of relativistic reconnection and initial development of magnetic flux eruption in accretion flow onto magnetically saturated BHs.

Methods. We analyzed the results of 3D general relativistic ideal magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) numerical simulations in the Kerr metric, starting from weakly magnetized geometrically thick tori rotating either prograde or retrograde. We integrated large samples of magnetic field lines in order to probe magnetic connectivity with the BH horizon.

Results. The boundary between magnetically connected and disconnected domains coincides roughly with enthalpy equipartition. The geometrically constricted innermost part of the disconnected domain develops a rigid structure of magnetic field lines – rotating slowly and insensitive to the BH spin orientation. The typical shape of innermost disconnected lines is a double spiral converging to a sharp inner tip anchored at the single equatorial current layer. The foot-points of magnetic flux eruptions are found to zip around the BH along with other azimuthal patterns.

Conclusions. Magnetic flux eruptions from magnetically saturated accreting BHs can be triggered by minor density gaps in the disconnected domain, resulting from the chaotic disconnection of plasma-depleted magnetospheric lines. Accretion flow is effectively channeled along the disconnected lines toward the current layer, and further toward the BH by turbulent cross-field diffusion. Rotation of flux eruption foot-points may contribute to the variability of BH crescent images.