Theoretical and Numerical Investigation of a Unified Astrophysical Rotating Black Hole Model for Active Galactic Nuclei, Microquasars, and Gamma-Ray Bursters

该奖项由2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助。这项研究将调查类星体和其他活动星系核(AGN)、微类星体和伽马射线爆发的喷流结构和能量产生，所有这些都被认为是由旋转的(克尔)黑洞提供动力的。然而，到目前为止，还没有一个自洽的黑洞模型来充分解释能量来源。这个项目将使用广义相对论超大质量克尔黑洞的物理学在蒙特卡洛计算机模拟彭罗斯过程中从旋转黑洞的动量层中提取能量和动量。提取的能量实际上与类星体和其他活动星系核的光谱中观测到的X射线和伽马射线以及推断的电子-正电子对相当。该计划的第一部分将详细研究(1)由于旋转黑洞的固有准直，以极喷形式逃逸的基本粒子的大涡旋测地线轨道；以及(2)与逃逸的粒子等离子体喷流相关的预期自感磁场。其目的是证明超大质量克尔黑洞确实可以解释活动星系核的能量来源。然后，按比例缩小的黑洞将被用来模拟银河系微类星体。下一步，类似的缩小黑洞经历活跃和不活跃的时期，将被用来模拟伽马射线爆发。总体目标是设计一个统一的模型，显示由不同质量和/或吸积盘性质的黑洞提供动力的活动星系核、微类星体和伽马射线爆发。这将对河外天文学、高能和相对论天体物理学以及恒星演化研究产生影响。

AST-0909098WilliamsThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This research will investigate the jet structure and energy generation of quasars and other active galactic nuclei (AGNs), microquasars, and gamma-ray bursters, all of which are believed to be powered by rotating (Kerr) black holes. However, there is as yet no self-consistent black hole model that adequately explains the energy source. This project will use the physics of general relativistic super-massive Kerr black holes in Monte Carlo computer simulations of Penrose processes to extract energy and momentum from the ergosphere of the rotating black hole. The energies extracted are in fact comparable to the observed X-rays and gamma-rays, and the inferred electron-positron pairs, in the spectra of quasars and other AGNs.The first part of the project will investigate in detail (1) the large vortical geodesic orbits of escaping elementary particles in the form of polar jets, due to intrinsic collimation by a rotating black hole; and (2) the expected self-induced magnetic field associated with the jets of escaping particle plasma. The objective is to show that super-massive Kerr black holes can indeed explain the energy source of AGNs. Then, scaled-down black holes will be used to model galactic microquasars. Next, similar scaled-down black holes going through periods of being active and then inactive, will be used to model gamma-ray bursters. The overall objective is to devise a unified model showing AGNs, microquasars, and gamma-ray bursters powered by black holes of different masses and/or accretion disk properties. This will have an impact across extragalactic astronomy, high energy and relativistic astrophysics, and the study of stellar evolution.