First Advisor
Matthew D Duez
Date of Award
Spring 6-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physics and University Honors
Department
Physics
Language
English
Subjects
accretion disks, HARM, GRMHD, magnetohydrodynamics, data analysis
Abstract
When modeling two-dimensional axisymmetric accretion disks around Kerr black holes, setting the azimuthal terms of the MHD equations to zero causes the loss of turbulence and dynamo effects. In this paper, we use three-dimensional models to identify the turbulence that arises from azimuthal flux derivatives (AFDs) and create probability density functions to characterize them. We establish a pipeline for calculating the AFDs, creating a distribution, and normalizing it. Then, we plot the dependence of the conditional probability of the AFDs on density, magnetic field strength, and velocity for the continuity and magnetic induction equations. Future research can take this information and fit for a relationship between the primitive variables and AFDs. This relationship can be used to enhance two-dimensional models, making them look like a two-dimensional cut from a three-dimensional model.
Recommended Citation
Purushothaman, Sasmitha; Duez, Matthew D.; and Chawhan, Pavan, "Modeling Turbulent Accretion Flows Around Black Holes: Azimuthal Flux Derivative Density Curves in 3D MHD Simulations" (2026). University Honors Theses. Paper 1779.