The dependence of the viscosity parameter on the disk scale height profile

• Grant number: 09/00723-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: April 01, 2009
• End date: March 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy
• Principal Investigator: César Meirelles Filho
• Grantee: César Meirelles Filho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

It is shown that, for accretion disks, the height scale is a constant whenever hydrostatic equilibrium and subsonic turbulence hold in the disk. In order to have a variable height scale, processes are needed that contribute an extra term to the continuity equation. This contribution makes the viscosity parameter much greater in the outer region and much smaller in the inner region. Under these circumstances, turbulence is the presumable source of viscosity in the disk. (AU)