Abstract
Current-driven reconnection is investigated as a possible mechanism for angular momentum transport in astrophysical disks. A theoretical and computational study of angular momentum transport from current-driven magnetohydrodynamic instabilities is performed. It is found that both a single resistive tearing instability and an ideal instability can transport momentum in the presence of azimuthal Keplerian flow. The structure of the Maxwell stress is examined for a single mode through analytic quasilinear theory and computation. Full nonlinear multiple-mode computation shows that a global Maxwell stress causes significant momentum transport.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 192 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 743 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 20 2011 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
Keywords
- accretion, accretion disks
- instabilities
- magnetic fields
- magnetic reconnection
- magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)