Abstract
We calculate spectral models of advection-dominated accretion flows, taking into account the possibility that significant mass may be lost to an outflow/wind. We apply the models to the soft X-ray transient V404 Cyg in quiescence, the Galactic center source Sgr A *, and the nucleus of NGC 4649. We show that there are qualitative degeneracies between the mass-loss rate in the wind and parameters characterizing the microphysics of the accretion flow; of particular importance is δ, the fraction of the turbulent energy which heats the electrons. For small δ, current observations suggest that at most 90% of the mass originating at large radii is lost to a wind, so that at least ∼ 10% reaches the central object. For large δ ∼ 0.3, however, models with significantly more mass loss are in agreement with the observations. We conclude by highlighting future observations which may clarify the importance of mass loss in sub-Eddington accretion flows.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 298-315 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 520 |
Issue number | 1 PART 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 20 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
Keywords
- Accretion, accretion disks
- Black hole physics
- Galaxies: individual (NGC 4649)
- Galaxy: center
- Stars: individual (V404 Cygni)