The Updated Physics of Black Holes with Steve Balbus & Andrew Mummery
StarTalk Radio
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The Turbulent Dynamics of Black Hole Accretion Discs
Research on black hole accretion discs reveals that their functioning is influenced not just by friction but also by turbulence within the gas. This turbulence, analogous to the swirling motion seen in water from a faucet or a river, causes the flow to be highly chaotic. Under these turbulent conditions, frictional forces can increase significantly—by factors of thousands or even millions—compared to more efficient models. The presence of numerous turbulent eddies fosters complex interactions where these eddies collide and influence one another, thereby amplifying the dynamics within the disc. Understanding these turbulent dynamics offers critical insights into the behavior and properties of accretion processes around black holes.
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