Simulations of Black Hole Accretion and Jets
Recent progress in computer
simulations of black hole accretion allows studies of jet formation in active
galactic nuclei and other black hole accretion systems in unprecedented detail.
For the first time, 3D general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD)
numerical simulations allowed determination of the maximum efficiency with
which radiatively inefficient accretion onto black holes can produce energy in
the form of relativistic jets and winds. I will present the dependence of this
maximum efficiency on black hole spin and accretion disk thickness and discuss
the astrophysical implications.
http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pcts/people/tchekhovskoy_alexander.html