A study in spherical accretion of self-gravitating fluids in a general relativistic framework

Richter, M C

A study in spherical accretion of self-gravitating fluids in a general relativistic framework

Doctoral Thesis

2010

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Physics

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

A new general framework for studying relativistic spherical accretion of a self-gravitating fluid onto a central black hole is introduced in stationary coordinates for an observer at infinity. The important feature of gravitational backreaction due to a self-gravitating fluid on the metric is included in the model. The model is solved numerically for the most simple case of a polytropic fluid and compared to analytical solutions, which the model approximates in the "test-fluid" limit. The model is then focused on the accretion of a relativistic Fermi gas and the implications this might have on the rapid growth of supermassive black holes from clouds of sterile neutrino dark matter in the early universe. The results give good agreement with a Newtonian model of supermassive black hole growth called the symbiotic scenario.

Description

Includes abstract.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-49).

Keywords

Physics

Reference:

Collections

PhD / Doctoral

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