Non-linear evolutions of magnetized thick discs around black holes: dependence on the initial data

Abstract

ABSTRACT We build equilibrium solutions of magnetized thick discs around a highly spinning Kerr black hole and evolve these initial data up to a final time of about 100 orbital periods. The numerical simulations reported in this paper solve the general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic equations using the bhac code and are performed in axisymmetry. Our study assumes non-self-gravitating, polytropic, constant angular momentum discs endowed with a purely toroidal magnetic field. In order to build the initial data, we consider three approaches, two of which incorporate the magnetic field in a self-consistent way and a third approach in which the magnetic field is included as a perturbation on to an otherwise purely hydrodynamical solution. To test the dependence of the evolution on the initial data, we explore four representative values of the magnetization parameter spanning from almost hydrodynamical discs to very strongly magnetized tori. The initial data are perturbed to allow for mass and angular momentum accretion on to the black hole. Notable differences are found in the long-term evolutions of the initial data. In particular, our study reveals that highly magnetized discs are unstable, and hence prone to be fully accreted and expelled, unless the magnetic field is incorporated into the initial data in a self-consistent way.