12 Questions
What could lead to a quasar having an arbitrarily high luminosity?
A large supply of matter available sufficiently close to the black hole
What is the effect of radiation pressure on the accreting material in the accretion disk?
It directs the material outwards, in opposition to the gravitational pull of the central mass
What is the Eddington limit related to?
The maximum quasar luminosity for a fixed black hole mass
What would be the state of the hydrogen in the accretion flow at some stage?
Become ionized due to high-frequency radiation
What is the composition of the accretion flow after the hydrogen becomes ionized?
A mixture of unbound electrons and unbound protons in a plasma
Why is hydrogen considered the obvious candidate in the accretion flow?
It is the most abundant element in the Universe
What is the main reason why the electrons are not 'blown' away despite the strong radiation force on them?
A strong local electromagnetic restoring force prevents the separation of electrons and protons
Why is the gravitational force on the proton much stronger than that on the electron?
Because the proton is much more massive than the electron
What is the direction of the momentum of a photon moving radially outwards from a quasar?
Outwards away from the quasar
What is the main factor that determines the strength of the radiation force on an electron?
The charge of the electron
What is the net result of the competing forces of gravity and radiation pressure on a hydrogen atom?
The balance between the two forces determines the motion of the hydrogen atom
What is the reason why the radiation force on the electron is much greater than that on the proton?
The Thomson cross-section scales inversely with the square of the particle's mass
Explore the accretion disk model of quasars and its implications on luminosity, considering factors such as radiation pressure and black hole mass. Learn about the limitations of this model and how it affects our understanding of quasars. Test your knowledge of quasars and their behavior.
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