MG12 - Talk detail
 

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Abstract

Accretion of multi-species plasma onto black holes

As matter falls from infinity onto a black hole, it makes a transition from non-relativistic to relativistic domain. Employing a relativistic equation of state for multi-species fluid we show that, the solution of such trans-relativistic flow strongly depend on the composition of the fluid. We show that the transonic electron-positron pair plasma is the coldest amongst all type of fluid studied. As a result of which, the corresponding wind solution is the weakest. We show that to make fluid thermally relativistic, a certain baryon loading is necessary. Furthermore, we show that electron-positron pair plasma flow around black holes do not form multiple sonic points, and therefore there is no question of forming accretion shock for these kind of plasma, although plasma with finite baryon content may undergo shock transition. Finally, we discuss the observational consequences of this study.

How fluid composition affects relativistic flow around compact objects

A fluid is said to be thermally relativistic when its thermal energy is comparable to or greater than its rest energy. It can be shown that, the thermal state of the fluid is governed by the ratio of the thermal and the rest energy and not just the temperature. This brings the composition of the fluid into the picture. Although, fluid composed of lighter particles (e.g: electron-positron pair plasma) is more relativistic compared to fluids with finite baryon loading, but this is not necessarily true when the same is compared for transonic fluid. It can be shown that the transonic pair-fluid is the least relativistic. We discuss the observational implications.

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