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

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.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Physics

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Richter, M C

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Viollier, Raoul D
• Tupper, Gary B

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11576

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/11576