Three-Dimensional Simulations of Magnetized Thin Accretion Disks around Black Holes: Stress in the Plunging Region

Abstract

We describe three-dimensional general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a geometrically thin accretion disk around a nonspinning black hole. The disk has a thickness over the radial range h/r ∼ 0.05–0.1. In steady state, the specific angular momentum profile of the inflowing magnetized gas deviates 2 (2–20)GM/c by less than 2% from that of the standard thin disk model of Novikov and Thorne. Also, the magnetic torque at the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) is only ∼2% of the inward flux of angular momentum at this radius. Both results indicate that magnetic coupling across the ISCO is relatively unimportant for geometrically thin disks.