Detecting Black Hole accretion disc

In summary, the conversation discusses the detection of the plane of an accretion disc of a Black Hole. It is suggested that the outer disk may align with the orbital plane of a Black Hole binary system, but the inner disk should be aligned with the equatorial plane of the spinning Black Hole due to the Bardeen-Petterson effect. This effect is caused by frame dragging. The conversation also mentions the Iron K alpha line fluorescence and its potential use in determining the accretion disk plane. It is suggested that knowing the orbital plane of a binary system could lead to an understanding of the accretion disk plane and the pole of the Black Hole, which is related to jet detection regions. However, it is questioned whether observations support this
  • #1
zankaon
166
0
How might one detect the plane of an accretion disc of a Black Hole? Might it just be assumed, by the orbital plane of a BH binary system? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accretion_disc" [Broken]
 
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  • #2
The outer disk might well be aligned with the orbital plane, but the inner disk should be aligned with the equatorial plane of the spinning (Kerr) black hole. It's called the Bardeen-Petterson effect and it's due to frame dragging.

Jim Graber
 
  • #3
BH binary etc.

One has Iron K alpha line fluorescence http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_fluorescence" [Broken] reverberation from a surface, with an initial x-ray source. The iron line emission is supposed to be from inner aspect of accretion disk. So if one knows the orbital plane of a binary, then roughly (via Bardeen Peterson effect i.e. gravitomagnetic i.e. frame dragging from rotation) one would know approximately BH accretion disk plane, and hence approximate orthogonal pole of BH, which would supposedly correspond to any jet detection region. So interrelatedness; but are observations consistent enough with such description?
 
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1. How do we detect black hole accretion discs?

Scientists use a variety of methods to detect black hole accretion discs. One common method is to observe the X-ray emissions from the heated gas as it falls towards the black hole. Other methods include studying the Doppler shifts of light from the disc and looking for changes in the brightness and temperature of the disc over time.

2. What are the main features of a black hole accretion disc?

The main features of a black hole accretion disc include a bright inner region where the gas is heated to extremely high temperatures, and a cooler outer region where the gas is less dense. The disc also has a distinct shape, with the inner edge being closer to the black hole and the outer edge extending further out.

3. How do black hole accretion discs form?

Black hole accretion discs form when a large amount of gas and dust is pulled towards a black hole by its strong gravitational pull. As the gas falls towards the black hole, it forms a disc due to the conservation of angular momentum. This disc then becomes the source of material for the black hole to accrete.

4. Can black hole accretion discs tell us about the properties of the black hole?

Yes, black hole accretion discs can provide valuable information about the properties of the black hole, such as its mass and spin. By studying the behavior of the accretion disc, scientists can also infer the strength of the black hole's gravitational field and the rate at which it is growing.

5. Are there any risks associated with studying black hole accretion discs?

Since black hole accretion discs emit large amounts of radiation, there can be some risks associated with studying them. However, scientists take precautions to minimize exposure and use specialized equipment, such as telescopes and detectors, to safely observe and collect data from these discs.

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