Theory of Black Hole Accretion Discs

The first comprehensive and up-to-date review of our new understanding of accretion disks around black holes - with chapters from experts from around the world.

Marek A. Abramowicz (Edited by), Gunnlaugur Björnsson (Edited by), James E. Pringle (Edited by)

9780521152952, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 August 2010

308 pages
24.4 x 17 x 1.6 cm, 0.45 kg

Review of the hardback: '… the editors should be congratulated on assembling a collection of high-quality articles'. Roger Blandford, The Observatory

This authoritative volume was the first to present a comprehensive review of our new understanding of accretion disks around black holes. Interest in black hole accretion disks has undergone a renaissance in recent years because of developments in three complementary areas: theoretical modelling of relativistic plasmas, numerical simulations with supercomputers, and observational tests now possible using new observatories such as the Japanese X-ray satellite, ASCAR. This volume presents review papers on all these topics from leading world authorities who gathered at an international conference in Reykjavik, Iceland. The authors are M. Abramowicz, P. Artymowicz, A. Brandenburg, G. Bjornsson, P. Charles, A. Fabian, J. Krolik, J. -P. Lasota, G. Madejski, R. Narayan, I. Novikov, J. Papaloizou, J. Poutanen, J. Pringle, M. Rees, E. Spiegel, R. Svensson, P. Witta. This 1998 volume provides a far-reaching review of the theory of black hole accretion disks for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics and theoretical physics.

Part I. Observations of Black Holes: 1. Black holes in our Galaxy: observations P. Charles
2. Black holes in Active Galactic Nuclei: observations G. M. Madejski
Part II. Physics Close to a Black Hole: 3. Physics of black holes I. D. Novikov
4. Physics of black hole accretion M. A. Abramowicz
Part III. Turbulence, Viscosity: 5. Disc turbulence and viscosity A. Brandenburg
Part IV. Radiative Processes: 6. The role of electron-positron pairs in accretion flows G. Björnsson
7. Accretion disc-corona models and X/Y-ray spectra of accreting black holes J. Poutanen
8. Emission lines: signatures of relativistic rotation A. C. Fabian
Part V. Accretion Discs: 9. Spectral tests of models for accretion disks around black holes J. H. Krolik
10. Advection-dominated accretion around black holes R. Narayan, R. Mahadevan and E. Quataert
11. Accretion disc instabilities and advection dominated accretion flows J.-P. Lasota
12. Magnetic field and multi-phase gas in AGN A. Celotti and M. J. Rees
Part V. Discs in Binary Black Holes: 13. Supermassive binary black holes in galaxies P. Artymowicz
Part VI. Stability of Accretion Discs: 14. Large scale perturbation of an accretion disc by a black hole binary companion J. C. B. Papaloizou, C. Terquem and D. N. C. Lin
15. Stable oscillations of black hole accretion discs M. Nowak and D. Lehr
Part VI. Coherant Structures: 16. Spotted discs A. Bracco, A. Provenzale, E. A. Spiegel and P. Yecko
Self-organized critically in accretion discs P. Wiita and Y. Xiong
Summary: old and new advances in black hole accretion disc theory R. Svensson.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Physics [PH]