Comptonization by reconnection plasmoids in black hole coronae I: Magnetically dominated pair plasma

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 507; no. 4; pp. 5625 - 5640
• Main Authors: Sridhar, Navin, Sironi, Lorenzo, Beloborodov, Andrei M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.11.2021
• Subjects: acceleration of particles; ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; binaries; black hole physics; magnetic reconnection; non-thermal; radiation mechanisms; radiative transfer; relativistic processes; X-rays; radiation mechanisms: non-thermal; relativistic processes; black hole physics; X-rays: binaries; acceleration of particles; magnetic reconnection; radiative transfer

ABSTRACT We perform 2D particle-in-cell simulations of reconnection in magnetically dominated electron–positron plasmas subject to strong Compton cooling. We vary the magnetization σ ≫ 1, defined as the ratio of magnetic tension to plasma inertia, and the strength of cooling losses. Magnetic reconne...