Search

Mergers of neutron star-neutron star (NS-NS) or neutron star-black hole (NS-BH) binaries are candidate sources of gravitational waves (GWs). At least a fraction of the merger remnant should be a stellar mass BH with a sub-relativistic ejecta. A collimated jet is launched via Blandford-Znajek mechanism from the central BH to trigger a short gamma-ray burst (SGRB). At the same time, a near-isotropic wind can be driven by the Blandford-Payne mechanism (BP). In previous work, additional energy injection to the ejecta from the BP mechanism was ignored, and radioactive decay has long been thought as the main source of energy for "kilonova" in the BH scenario. In this letter, we propose that the wind driven by BP mechanism from the new-born BH-disk can heat up and push the ejecta during the prompt emission phase or even at late time when there is mass fall-back. Such a BP-powered merger-nova could be bright at optical band even for a low-luminosity SGRB. The detection of a GW event with a merger product of BH, and accompanied by a bright merger-nova, would be a robust test of our model., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJL

The X-ray plateau followed by a steep decay ("internal plateau") has been observed in both long and short gamma-ray burst (GRBs), implying a millisecond magnetar operating in some GRBs. The sharp decay at the end of plateau, marking the abrupt cessation of the magnetar central engine, has been considered as the collapse of a supra-massive magnetar to a black hole (BH) when it spins down. If "internal plateau" is indeed the evidence of a magnetar central engine, a natural expectation is a signature from the new-born BH in some candidates. In this work, we find that GRB 070110 is a particular case, which shows a small X-ray bump following its "internal plateau". We interpret the plateau with a spin-down supra-massive magnetar and the X-ray bump with a fall-back BH accretion. This indicates that the new-born BH is likely active in some GRBs. Therefore, GRB 070110-like events may provide a further support to the magnetar central engine model and enable us to investigate the properties of the magnetar as well as the new-born BH., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Recently, two empirical correlations related to the minimum variability timescale ($\rm MTS$) of the lightcures are discovered in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). One is the anti-correlation between $\rm MTS$ and Lorentz factor $\Gamma$, the other is the anti-correlation between the $\rm MTS$ and gamma-ray luminosity $L_\gamma$. Both the two correlations might be used to explore the activity of the central engine of GRBs. In this paper we try to understand these empirical correlations by combining two popular black hole (BH) central engine models (namely, Blandford \& Znajek mechanism and neutrino-dominated accretion flow). By taking the $\rm MTS$ as the timescale of viscous instability of the neutrino-dominated accretion flow (NDAF), we find that these correlations favor the scenario in which the jet is driven by Blandford-Znajek (BZ) mechanism., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

A stellar mass black hole (BH) surrounded by a neutrino-dominated accretion flow (NDAF) has been discussed in a number of works as the central engine of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). It is widely believed that NDAF cannot liberate enough energy for bright GRBs. However, these works have been based on the assumption of "no torque" boundary condition, which is invalid when the disk is magnetized. In this paper, we present both numerical and analytical solutions for NDAFs with non-zero boundary stresses, and reexamine their properties. We find that NDAF with such boundary torque can be powerful enough to account for those bright short GRBs, energetic long GRBs and ultra-long GRBs. The disk becomes viscously unstable, which makes it possible to interpret the variability of GRB prompt emission and the steep decay phase in the early X-ray afterglow. Finally, we study the gravitational waves radiated from a processing BH-NDAF. We find that the effects of the boundary torque on the strength of the gravitational waves can be ignored., Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

A model for 3:2 high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HFQPOs) with 3:2 pairs observed in four black hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs) is proposed by invoking the epicyclic resonances with the magnetic connection (MC) between a spinning black hole (BH) with a relativistic accretion disc. It turns out that the MC can be worked out due to Poynting-Robertson cosmic battery (PRCB), and the 3:2 HFQPO pairs associated with the steep power-law states can be fitted in this model. Furthermore, the severe damping problem in the epicyclic resonance model can be overcome by transferring energy from the BH to the inner disc via the MC process for emitting X-rays with sufficient amplitude and coherence to produce the HFQPOs. In addition, we discuss the important role of the magnetic field in state transition of BHXBs., Comment: 8 pages, accepted for publication in MNRAS

A magnetic model for low/hard state (LHS) of black hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs),H1743-322 and GX 339-4, is proposed based on the transportation of magnetic field from a companion into an accretion disk around a black hole (BH). This model consists of a truncated thin disk with an inner advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF). The spectral profiles of the sources are fitted in agreement with the data observed at four different dates corresponding to the rising phase of the LHS. In addition, the association of the LHS with quasi-steady jet is modelled based on transportation of magnetic field, where the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) and Blandford-Payne (BP) processes are invoked to drive the jets from BH and inner ADAF. It turns out that the steep radio/X-ray correlations observed in H1743-322 and GX 339-4 can be interpreted based on our model., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures,accepted by RAA

The well-known correlation between the radio luminosity ($L_R$) and the X-ray luminosity ($L_X$) $L_R / L_X \simeq 10^{-5}$ holds for a variety of objects like active galactic nuclei, galactic black holes, solar flares and cool stars. Here we extend the relation to gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), and find the GRBs also lay on the same $L_R-L_X$ relation, with a slightly different slope as $L_R \propto L_X^{1.1}$. This relation implies the explosions in different scales may have a common underlying origin., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure

The continued observations of Sw J1644+57 in X-ray and radio bands accumulated a rich data set to study the relativistic jet launched in this tidal disruption event. The X-ray light curve of Sw J1644+57 from 5-30 days presents two kinds of quasi-periodic variations: a 200 second quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) and a 2.7-day quasi-periodic variation. The latter has been interpreted by a precessing jet launched near the Bardeen-Petterson radius of a warped disk. Here we suggest that the $\sim$ 200s QPO could be associated with a second, narrower jet sweeping the observer line-of-sight periodically, which is launched from a spinning black hole in the misaligned direction with respect to the black hole's angular momentum. In addition, we show that this two-component jet model can interpret the radio light curve of the event, especially the re-brightening feature starting $\sim 100$ days after the trigger. From the data we infer that inner jet may have a Lorentz factor of $\Gamma_{\rm j} \sim 5.5$ and a kinetic energy of $E_{\rm k,iso} \sim 3.0 \times 10^{52} {\rm erg}$, while the outer jet may have a Lorentz factor of $\Gamma_{\rm j} \sim 2.5$ and a kinetic energy of $E_{\rm k,iso} \sim 3.0 \times 10^{53} {\rm erg}$., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

The universal radio--X-ray correlation (F_R \propto F_X^{b}, b~0.5-0.7) has been found for a sample of black-hole X-ray binaries (BHBs) in their low/hard states, which can roughly be explained by the coupled model of jet and radiatively inefficient advection dominated accretion flow. However, more and more `outliers' were found in last few years, which evidently deviate from the universal radio-X-ray correlation and usually show a much steeper correlation with an index of ~1.4. Based on simple physical assumptions, the radiatively efficient accretion flows are speculated to exist in these `outliers'. In this work, we test this issue by modelling the `outliers' track based on the radiatively efficient disc-corona model and the hybrid jet model. We find that our model predicts a steeper radio--X-ray correlation with slopes >~1.2 for the typical viscosity parameter of \alpha~0.05-0.2. In particular, the slope is ~1.4 for the case of \alpha~0.1, which is consistent with the observational results of H1743-322 very well. Our results suggest that the `outliers' track may be regulated by the disc-corona model., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

A disk-corona model for fitting low/hard (LH) state of associated steady jet of black hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs) is proposed based on the large-scale magnetic field configuration of the coexistence of the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) and Blandford-Payne (BP) processes,where the magnetic field configuration for the BP process is determined by the requirement of energy conversion from Poynting energy flux into kinetic energy flux in the jet. It is found that corona current is crucial to guarantee the consistency of the jet launching from accretion disk. The relative importance of the BZ to BP processes in powering jets from black hole accretion disk is discussed, and the LH state of several BHXBs is fitted based on our model.In addition, we suggest that magnetic field configuration could be regarded as the second parameter for governing the state transition of BHXBs., Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures

Recent observations suggest that in black hole X-ray binaries jet/outflow formation is related to the hot plasma in the vicinity of the black hole, either in the form of an advection-dominated accretion flow at low accretion rates or in a disk corona at high accretion rates. We test the viability of this scenario for supermassive black holes using two samples of active galactic nuclei distinguished by the presence (radio-strong) and absence (radio-weak) of well-collimated, relativistic jets. Each is centered on a narrow range of black hole mass but spans a very broad range of Eddington ratios, effectively simulating, in a statistical manner, the behavior of a single black hole evolving across a wide spread in accretion states. Unlike the relationship between the radio and optical luminosity, which shows an abruptly break between high- and low-luminosity sources at an Eddington ratio of ~1, the radio emission-a measure of the jet power-varies continuously with the hard X-ray (2-10 keV) luminosity, roughly as L_R \propto L_X^(0.6-0.75). This relation, which holds for both radio-weak and radio-strong active galaxies, is similar to the one seen in X-ray binaries. Jet/outflow formation appears to be closely linked to the conditions that give rise to the hot, optically thin coronal emission associated with accretion flows, both in the regime of low and high accretion rates., Comment: Accepted by ApJ, 8 pages, 3 figures

The quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in black hole (BH) systems of different scales are interpreted based on the magnetic reconnection of the large-scale magnetic fields generated by the toroidal electric currents flowing in the inner region of accretion disk, where the current density is assumed to be proportional to the mass density of the accreting plasma. The magnetic connection (MC) is taken into account in resolving the dynamic equations of the accretion disk, in which the MC between the inner and outer disk regions, the MC between the plunging region and the disk, and the MC between the BH horizon and the disk are involved. It turns out that the single QPO frequency of several BH systems of different scales can be fitted by invoking the magnetic reconnection due to the MC between the inner and outer regions of the disk, where the BH binaries XTE J1859+226, XTE J1650-500 and GRS 1915+105 and the massive BHs in NGC 5408 X-1 and RE J1034+396 are included. In addition, the X-ray spectra corresponding to the QPOs are fitted for these sources based on the typical disk-corona model., Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in RAA

A model of low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (LFQPOs) of black hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs) is proposed based on the perturbed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations of accretion disk. It turns out that the LFQPOs frequencies of some BHXBs can be fitted by the frequencies of the toroidal Alfv\'en wave oscillation corresponding to the maximal radiation flux. In addition, the positive correlation of the LFQPO frequencies with the radiation flux from accretion disk is well interpreted., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in RAA

We propose a two-component jet model consistent with the observations of several gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The jet consists of inner and outer components, and they are supposed to be driven by the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) and Blandford-Payne (BP) processes, respectively. The baryons in the BP jet is accelerated centrifugally via the magnetic field anchored in the accretion disk. The BZ jet is assumed to be entrained a fraction of accreting matter leaving the inner edge of the accretion disk, and the baryons are accelerated in the conversion from electromagnetic energy to the kinetic energy. By fitting the Lorentz factors of some GRBs (GRB 030329, GRB 051221A, GRB 080413B) and AGNs (Cen A, Mkn 501 and Mkn 421) with this model, we constrain the physical parameters related to the accretion and outflow of these two kind of objects. We conclude that the spine/sheath structure of the jet from these sources can be interpreted naturally by the BZ and BP processes., Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in RAA

The bulk Lorentz factor of the gamma-ray burst (GRB) ejecta (Gamma_0) is a key parameter to understand the GRB physics. Liang et al. have discovered a correlation between Gamma_0 and isotropic gamma-ray energy: Gamma_0\proptoE_{gamma,iso,52}^{0.25}. By including more GRBs with updated data and more methods to derive Gamma_0, we confirm this correlation and obtain Gamma_0~91E_{gamma,iso,52}^{0.29}. Evaluating the mean isotropic gamma-ray luminosities L_{gamma,iso} of the GRBs in the same sample, we discover an even tighter correlation Gamma_0~249 L_{gamma,iso,52}^{0.30}. We propose an interpretation to this later correlation. Invoking a neutrino-cooled hyperaccretion disk around a stellar mass black hole as the central engine of GRBs, we derive jet luminosity powered by neutrino annihilation and baryon loading from a neutrino-driven wind. Applying beaming correction, we finally derive Gamma_0\proptoL_{gamma,iso}^{0.22}, which is well consistent with the data. This suggests that the central engine of long GRBs is likely a stellar mass black hole surrounded by a hyper-accreting disk., Comment: 8 pages, including 1 table and 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We compile 23 Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs) and 21 blazars with estimated Doppler factors, and the Doppler factors of GRBs are estimated from their Lorentz factors by assuming their jet viewing angles \theta->0 degree. Using the conventional assumption that the prompt emission of GRBs is dominated by the synchrotron radiation, we calculate the synchrotron luminosity of GRBs from their total isotropic energy and burst duration. Intriguingly, we discover a uniform correlation between the synchrotron luminosity and Doppler factor, L_syn \propto D^3.1, for GRBs and blazars, which suggests that they may share some similar jet physics. One possible reason is that GRBs and blazars have, more or less, similar intrinsic synchrotron luminosities and both of them are strongly enhanced by the beaming effect. After Doppler and redshift-correction, we find that the intrinsic peak energy of the GRBs ranges from 0.1 to 3 keV with a typical value of 1 keV. We further correct the beaming effect for the observed luminosity of GRBs and find that there exists a positive correlation between the intrinsic synchrotron luminosity and peak energy for GRBs, which is similar to that of blazars. Our results suggest that both the intrinsic positive correlation and the beaming effect may be responsible for the observed tight correlation between the isotropic energy and the peak energy in GRBs (so called "Amati" relation)., Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letter, part of discussion is improved and main conclusion is unchanged

We investigate the correlation between 151 MHz radio luminosity, L_151MHz, and jet power, P_jet, for a sample of low-power radio galaxies, of which the jet power is estimated from X-ray cavities. The jet power for a sample of FR I radio galaxies is estimated with the derived empirical correlation. We find that P_jet/L_Edd is positively correlated with Lx(2-10 keV)/L_Edd for FR Is, where L_Edd is the Eddington luminosity and Lx(2-10 keV) is 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity. We calculate the jet power of a hybrid model, as a variant of Blandford-Znajek model proposed by Meier, based on the global solution of the advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) surrounding a Kerr black hole (BH). Our model calculations suggest that the maximal jet power is a function of mass accretion rate and the black hole spin parameter j. The hard X-ray emission is believed to be mainly from the ADAFs in FR Is, and the mass accretion rate is therefore constrained with the X-ray emission in our ADAF model calculations. We find that the dimensionless angular momentum of BH j>~0.9 is required in order to reproduce the observed relation of P_jet/L_Edd-Lx(2-10 keV)/L_Edd for FR Is. Our conclusion will be strengthened if part of the X-ray emission is contributed by the jets. Our results suggest that BHs in FR I radio galaxies are rapidly spinning, which are almost not affected by the uncertainty of the black hole mass estimates., Comment: Accepted by ApJ

We apply epicyclic resonances to the magnetic connection (MC) of a black hole (BH) with a relativistic accretion disc, interpreting the high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HFQPOs) with 3:2 pairs observed in three BH X-ray binaries. It turns out that the 3:2 HFQPO pairs are associated with the steep power-law states, and the severe damping can be overcome by transferring energy and angular momentum from a spinning BH to the inner disc in the MC process., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Accepted by MNRAS

A calibration is made for the correlation between the X-ray Variability Amplitude (XVA) and Black Hole (BH) mass. The correlation for 21 reverberation-mapped Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) appears very tight, with an intrinsic dispersion of 0.20 dex. The intrinsic dispersion of 0.27 dex can be obtained if BH masses are estimated from the stellar velocity dispersions. We further test the uncertainties of mass estimates from XVAs for objects which have been observed multiple times with good enough data quality. The results show that the XVAs derived from multiple observations change by a factor of 3. This means that BH mass uncertainty from a single observation is slightly worse than either reverberation-mapping or stellar velocity dispersion measurements; however BH mass estimates with X-ray data only can be more accurate if the mean XVA value from more observations is used. Applying this relation, the BH mass of RE J1034+396 is found to be $4^{+3}_{-2} \times 10^6$ $M_{\odot}$. The high end of the mass range follows the relationship between the 2$f_0$ frequencies of high-frequency QPO and the BH masses derived from the Galactic X-ray binaries. We also calculate the high-frequency constant $C= 2.37 M_\odot$ Hz$^{-1}$ from 21 reverberation-mapped AGN. As suggested by Gierli\'nski et al., $M_{\rm BH}=C/C_{\rm M}$, where $C_{\rm M}$ is the high-frequency variability derived from XVA. Given the similar shape of power-law dominated X-ray spectra in ULXs and AGN, this can be applied to BH mass estimates of ULXs. We discuss the observed QPO frequencies and BH mass estimates in the Ultra-Luminous X-ray source M82 X-1 and NGC 5408 X-1 and favor ULXs as intermediate mass BH systems (abridged)., Comment: ApJ 710, 16-23, 2010, color figures online only

We discuss transportation and redistribution of energy and angular momentum in the magnetic connection (MC) process and Blandford-Payne (BP) process. The MC results in readjusting the interior viscous torque, and its effects are operative not only in but also beyond the MC region. The BP process is invoked to transfer the "excessive" angular momentum from an accretion disc. In addition, we derive a criterion for the interior viscous torque to resolve the puzzle of the overall equilibrium of angular momentum in disc accretion. It turns out that the BP efficiency of extracting angular momentum and the intensity of the outflow are required to be greater than some critical values., Comment: 4 pages with 3 figures, accepted by Science in China Series G

We propose a simplified model of outflow/jet driven by the Blandford-Payne (BP) process from advection dominated accretion flows (ADAF) and derive the expressions of the BP power and disk luminosity based on the conservation laws of mass, angular momentum and energy. We fit the 2--10 keV luminosity and kinetic power of 15 active galactic nucleus (AGNs) of sub-Eddington luminosity. It is found that there exists an anti-correlation between the accretion rate and the advection parameter, which could be used to explain the correlation between Eddington-scaled kinetic power and bolometric luminosity of the 15 samples. In addition, the Ledlow-Owen relation for FR I/II dichotomy is re-expressed in a parameter space consisting of logarithm of dimensionless accretion rate versus that of the BH mass. It turns out that the FR I/II dichotomy is determined mainly by the dimensionless accretion rate, being insensitive to the BH mass. And the dividing accretion rate is less than the critical accretion rate for ADAFs, suggesting that FR I sources are all in the ADAF state., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. Accepted by New Astronomy

We discuss one of the possible origins of large-scale magnetic fields based on a continuous distribution of toroidal electric current flowing in the inner region of the disc around a Kerr black hole (BH) in the framework of general relativity. It turns out that four types of configuration of the magnetic connection (MC) are generated, i.e., MC of the BH with the remote astrophysical load (MCHL), MC of the BH with the disc (MCHD), MC of the plunging region with the disc (MCPD) and MC of the inner and outer disc regions (MCDD). It turns out that the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) process can be regarded as one type of MC, i.e., MCHL. In addition, we propose a scenario for fitting the quasi-periodic oscillations in BH binaries based on MCDD associated with the magnetic reconnection., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Accepted by MNRAS, 05/05/2009

We propose a model of magnetic connection (MC) of a black hole with its surrounding accretion disc based on large-scale magnetic field. The MC gives rise to transport of energy and angular momentum between the black hole and the disc, and the closed field lines pipe the hot matter evaporated from the disc, and shape it in the corona above the disc to form a magnetically induced disc-corona system, in which the corona has the same configuration as the large-scale magnetic field. We numerically solve the dynamic equations in the context of the Kerr metric, in which the large-scale magnetic field is determined by dynamo process and equipartition between magnetic pressure and gas pressure. Thus we can obtain a global solution rather than assuming the distribution of large-scale magnetic field beforehand. The main MC effects lie in three aspects. (1) The rotational energy of a fast-spinning black hole can be extracted, enhancing the dissipation in the accretion disc, (2) the closed field lines provide a natural channel for corona matter escaping from disc and finally falling into black hole, and (3) the scope of the corona can be bounded by the conservation of magnetic flux. We simulate the high-energy spectra of this system by using Monte-Carlo method, and find that the relative hardness of the spectra decreases as accretion rate or black hole spin $a_*$ increases. We fit the typical X-ray spectra of three black-hole binaries (GRO J1655-40, XTE 1118+480 and GX 339-4) in the low/hard or very high state., Comment: The paper contains 11 figures and 1 table. Acceptted by MNRAS, 2009 January 19

Association of the high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation (HFQPO) pairs with the broad Fe K line in XTE J1550-564 and GRO J1655-40 is discussed based on the magnetic coupling (MC) of a rotating black hole (BH) with its surrounding disc. The 3:2 HFQPO pairs are interpreted by virtue of the inner and outer hotspots arising from non-axisymmetric magnetic field, where the inner hotspot is produced by a torque exerted at the inner edge of the disc, and the outer hotspot is created by the screw instability of the large-scale magnetic field. The very steep emissivity index is created predominantly by the torque exerted at the inner edge of the disc. It turns out that the 3:2 HFQPO pairs observed in the two sources can be fitted by tuning several model parameters, such as the BH spin, and the main features of this model lie in three aspects. (1) The condition for only one HFQPO is discussed based on the two mechanisms for producing the 3:2 HFQPO pairs, (2) an explanation is given for a systematic shift away from disc dominated flux with the increasing power-law flux as the HFQPO pairs shift from the higher to lower frequencies, which is consistent with the analysis given by Remillard et al. (2002), and (3) the BH spin in XTE J1550-564 and GRO J1655-40 can be estimated by combining the 3:2 HFQPO pairs with the very steep emissivity index required for fitting the broad Fe K emission line., Comment: 13 pages,8 figures, 2 tables, accepted by MNRAS, Sept 16, 2008

Aims. A simplified model of jet power from active galactic nuclei is proposed in which the relationship between jet power and disk luminosity is discussed by combining disk accretion with two mechanisms of extracting energy magnetically from a black hole accretion disk, i.e., the Blandford-Payne (BP) and the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) processes. Methods. By including the BP process into the conservation laws of mass, angular momentum and energy, we derive the expressions of the BP power and disk luminosity, and the jet power is regarded as the sum of the BZ and BP powers. Results. We find that the disk radiation flux and luminosity decrease because a fraction of the accretion energy is channelled into the outflow/jet in the BP process. It is found that the dominant cooling mode of the accretion disk is determined mainly by how the poloidal magnetic field decreases with the cylindrical radius of the jet. By using the parameter space we found, which consists of the black hole spin and the self-similar index of the configuration of the poloidal magnetic field frozen in the disk, we were able to compare the relative importance of the following quantities related to the jet production: (1) the BP power versus the disk luminosity, (2) the BP power versus the BZ power, and (3) the jet power versus the disk luminosity. In addition, we fit the jet power and broad-line region luminosity of 11 flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and 17 steep-spectrum radio quasars (SSRQs) based on our model., Comment: accepted by A&A

We propose a three-stage model with Blandford-Znajek (BZ) and hyperaccretion process to interpret the recent observations of early afterglows of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). In the first stage, the prompt GRB is powered by a rotating black hole (BH) invoking the BZ process. The second stage is a quiet stage, in which the BZ process is shut off, and the accretion onto the BH is depressed by the torque exerted by the magnetic coupling (MC) process. Part of the rotational energy transported by the MC process from the BH is stored in the disk as magnetic energy. In the third stage, the MC process is shut off when the magnetic energy in the disk accumulates and triggers the magnetic instability. At this moment, the hyperaccretion process may onset, and the jet launched in this restarted central engine generates the observed X-ray flares. This model can account for energies and timescales of GRBs with X-ray flares observed in early afterglows., Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures. Accepted by ChJAA

Three energy mechanisms invoking large-scale magnetic fields are incorporated in a model to interpret jet production in black hole (BH) systems, i.e., the Blandford-Znajek (BZ), the magnetic coupling (MC) and Blandford-Payne (BP) processes. These energy mechanisms can coexist in BH accretion disc based on the magnetic field configurations constrained by the screw instability, provided that the BH spin and the power-law index indicating the variation of the magnetic field at an accretion disc are greater than some critical values. In this model the jets are driven by the BZ process in the Poynting flux regime and by the BP process in the hydromagnetic regime, being consistent with the spine/sheath jet structure observed in BH sources of stellar and supermassive size., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted by MNRAS

A model of magnetic coupling (MC) of a rotating black hole (BH) with advection- dominated accretion flow (MCADAF) is proposed. It turns out that MCADAF providers a natural explanation for the transition radius between ADAF and SSD, and could be used to interpret the highest luminosity of GX 339-4 in hard-state. A very steep emissivity index can be produced in the innermost part of the MCADAF,which is consistent with the recent XMM-Newton observations of the nearby bright Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15 and with two X-ray binaries (XRBs): XTE J1655-500 and GX 339-4. In addition, we estimate the BH spins in Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15 and in the two XRBs based on this model., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures,acceptted by New Astronomy

The effects of magnetic coupling (MC) process on the inner edge of the disc are discussed in detail. It is shown that the inner edge can deviate from the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) due to the magnetic transfer of energy and angular momentum between a Kerr black hole (BH) and its surrounding accretion disc. It turns out that the inner edge could move inward and outward for the BH spin $a_{*}$ being greater and less than 0.3594, respectively. The MC effects on disc radiation are discussed based on the displaced inner edge. A very steep emissivity can be provided by the MC process, which is consistent with the observation of MCG-6-30-15. In addition, the BH spins of GRO J1655-40 and GRS 1915+105 are detected by X-ray continuum fitting based on this model., Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures. Accepted by MNRAS

We argue, following our earlier works (the "CEBZMC model"), that the phenomenon of twin peak high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in black hole X-ray binaries is caused by magnetic coupling (MC) between accretion disk and black hole (BH). Due to MC, two bright spots occur at two separate radial locations r_{in} and r_{out} at the disk surface, energized by a kind of the Blandford-Znajek mechanism (BZ). We assume, following the Kluzniak-Abramowicz QPO resonance model, that Keplerian frequencies at these two locations are in the 3:2 ratio. With this assumption, we estimate the BH spins in several sources, including GRO J1655-40, GRS 1915+105, XTE J1550-564, H1743-322 and Sgr A*. We give an interpretation of the "jet line" in the hardness-intensity plane discussing the parameter space consisting of the BH spin and the power-law index for the variation of the large-scale magnetic field in the disk. Furthermore, we propose a new scenario for the spectral state transitions in BH X-ray binaries based on fluctuation in densities of accreting plasma from a companion star., Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, accepted by APJ

A toy model for magnetic connection in black hole (BH) accretion disc is discussed based on a poloidal magnetic field generated by a single electric current flowing around a Kerr black hole in the equatorial plane. We discuss the effects of the coexistence of two kinds of magnetic connection (MC) arising respectively from (1) the closed field lines connecting the BH horizon with the disc (henceforth MCHD), and (2) the closed field lines connecting the plunging region with the disc (henceforth MCPD). The magnetic field configuration is constrained by conservation of magnetic flux and a criterion of the screw instability of the magnetic field. Two parameters and are introduced to describe our model instead of resolving the complicated MHD equations. Compared with MCHD, energy and angular momentum of the plunging particles are extracted via MCPD more effectively, provided that the BH spin is not very high. It turns out that negative energy can be delivered to the BH by the plunging particles without violating the second law of BH thermodynamics, however it cannot be realized via MCPD in a stable way., Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, accepted by MNRAS

A toy model for gamma-ray burst supernovae (GRB-SNe) is discussed by considering the effects of screw instability of magnetic field in black hole (BH) magnetosphere. The screw instability in the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) process (henceforth SIBZ) can coexist with the screw instability in the magnetic coupling (MC) process (henceforth SIMC). It turns out that both SIBZ and SIMC occur inevitably, provided that the following parameters are greater than some critical values, i.e., (i) the BH spin, (ii) the power-law index describing the magnetic field at the disk, and (iii) the vertical height of the astrophysical load above the equatorial plane of the rotating BH. The features of several GRBs are well fitted. In our model the durations of the long GRBs depend on the evolve time of the half-opening angle. A small fraction of energy is extracted from the BH via the BZ process to power a GRB, while a large fraction of energy is extracted from the BH via the MC process to power an associated supernova. In addition, the variability time scales of tens of msec in the light curves of the GRBs are fitted by two successive flares due to SIBZ., Comment: 22 pages,5 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ

We propose a model to explain a puzzling 3:2 frequency ratio of high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HFQPOs) in black hole (BH) X-ray binaries, GRO J1655-40, GRS 1915+105 and XTE J1550-564. In our model a non-axisymmetric magnetic coupling (MC) of a rotating black hole (BH) with its surrounding accretion disc coexists with the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) process. The upper frequency is fitted by a rotating hotspot near the inner edge of the disc, which is produced by the energy transferred from the BH to the disc, and the lower frequency is fitted by another rotating hotspot somewhere away from the inner edge of the disc, which arises from the screw instability of the magnetic field on the disc. It turns out that the 3:2 frequency ratio of HFQPOs in these X-ray binaries could be well fitted to the observational data with a much narrower range of the BH spin. In addition, the spectral properties of HFQPOs are discussed. The correlation of HFQPOs with jets from microquasars is contained naturally in our model., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. accepted by MNRAS

A toy model for jet powers and radio loudness of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is proposed based on the coexistence of the Blandford-Znajek (BZ) and magnetic coupling (MC) processes (CEBZMC) in black hole (BH) accretion disc. It turns out that both the jet powers and radio-loudness of AGNs are controlled by more than one physical parameter besides the BH spin. The observed dichotomy between radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs is well interpreted by the two parameters, the BH spin and the power-law index of the variation of the magnetic field on the disc. Furthermore, we discuss the correlation of jet powers with radio loudness of AGNs in terms of the two parameters. It is found that the contours of radio loudness are approximately in accord with those of jet powers for several 3CR radio sources, implying roughly that the stronger jet power corresponds to stronger radio loudness. In addition we discuss the correlation of the jet powers and radio-loudness of AGNs with the position of the inner edge of an accretion disc. These results imply that the spin paradigm for radio loudness of AGNs might be modified by a scenario containing more physical parameters., Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures. accepted by MNRAS

A toy model for magnetic extraction of energy from black hole (BH) accretion disk is discussed by considering the restriction of the screw instability to the magnetic field configuration. Three mechanisms of extracting energy magnetically are involved. (1) The Blandford-Znajek (BZ) process is related to the open magnetic field lines connecting the BH with the astrophysical load; (2) the magnetic coupling (MC) process is related to the closed magnetic field lines connecting the BH with its surrounding disk; and (3) a new scenario (henceforth the DL process) for extracting rotational energy from the disk is related to the open field lines connecting the disk with the astrophysical load. The expressions for the electromagnetic powers and torques are derived by using the equivalent circuits corresponding to the above energy mechanisms. It turns out that the DL power is comparable with the BZ and MC powers as the BH spin approaches unity. The radiation from a quasi-steady thin disk is discussed in detail by applying the conservation laws of mass, energy and angular momentum to the regions corresponding to the MC and DL processes. In addition, the poloidal currents and the current densities in BH magnetosphere are calculated by using the equivalent circuits., Comment: 24 pages 9 figures. Accepted by New Astronomy

An analytic model of the evolution of a rotating black hole (BH) is proposed by considering the coexistence of disk accretion with the Blandford-Znajek process. The evolutionary characteristics of the BH are described in terms of three parameters: the BH spin $a_*$, the ratio $k$ of the angular velocity of the magnetic field lines to that of the BH horizon and the parameter $\lambda$ indicating the position of the inner edge of the disk. It is shown that the ratio $k$ being a little greater than 0.5 affects the evolutionary characteristics of the BH significantly, and the BH spin increases rather than decreases in its evolutionary process provided that the initial value of the BH spin is located in an appropriate value range determined by ratio $k$. Our calculations show that the system of a BH accretion disk with $k=0.6$ might provide a much higher output energy in a shorter timescale for gamma-ray bursts than the same system with $k=0.5$., Comment: 27 pages, 26 figures