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Accretion disk coronae in high-luminosity systemsWe present the results of self-consistent models of Compton-heated accretion disk coronae. The models are calculated using a new method for computing monochromatic radiative transfer n two dimensions. The method splits the radiation into direct and scattered components. The direct radiation is computed by calculating the optical depth along rays, while transfer of the scattered radiation is approximated by flux-limited diffusion. The resulting code agrees with more accurate treatments to within 50%, and is highly efficient, making it practical for use in large hydrodynamic simulations. The coronal models are used to confirm the results of earlier work, and to extend it to higher luminosities. In contrast to earlier work, which found the outer disks to be shadowed by the inner corona at high luminosities, we find our results to form an almost continuous extension of the models at lower luminosities. This is due to the presence of multiply scattered radiation, which acts to partially offset the loss of direct radiation from the central source. Although the analytic methods derived at lower luminosities cannot be used to derive the coronal structure for L/L(sub Edd) approx. greater than 0.1, the results of the models are amenable to semiempirical fits. We also discuss possible observational consequences of the results for coronal veiling and line fluorescence from the disk.
Document ID
19950038820
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Murray, Stephen D.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Castor, John I.
(Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Livermore, CA, United States)
Klein, Richard I.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Mckee, Christopher F.
(Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
November 10, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 435
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astronomy
Accession Number
95A70419
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-3027
CONTRACT_GRANT: W-7405-ENG-48
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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