WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
This project addresses the frontier problems of plasma dissipation and radiation in accretion flows onto black holes, when the density is so low that Coulomb coupling is inadequate to heat the electrons. Using magnetohydrodynamic turbulence generated by the magneto-rotational-instability (MRI) as the template, the physics of plasma energization and radiation will be studied in depth, using Particle-in-Cell codes and Monte Carlo radiation codes. This research is potentially transformative as it tackles the new frontier of 'subgrid' physics, linking microphysical processes to macroscopic simulations.
The study will impact all accretion phenomena in which the MRI mechanism may be important, as well as having much broader applications to most plasma phenomena beyond astrophysics. This research also exposes undergraduates and talented high school students to cutting-edge astrophysics research and supercomputer applications. User-friendly public access comes from an active website maintained in collaboration with the Houston museum system.
Choose a quarter and click "Go."
| AWARD OVERVIEW |
| Award Number |
0909167 |
Funding Agency |
National Science Foundation |
| Total Award Amount |
$302,010 |
Project Location - City |
Houston |
| Award Date |
06/12/2009 |
Project Location - State |
TX |
| Project Status |
Completed |
Project Location - Zip |
77005-1892
|
| Jobs Reported |
0.78 |
Congressional District |
07 |
| Project Location - Country |
US |
|
|
Recipient Information
(Grants)
| Recipient Information (Grants) |
|
Recipient Name
|
WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY |
| Recipient DUNS Number |
050299031
|
| Recipient Address |
6100 MAIN ST |
| Recipient City |
HOUSTON |
| Recipient State |
Texas |
| Recipient Zip |
77005-1827 |
| Recipient Congressional District |
07 |
| Recipient Country |
USA |
Required to Report Top 5
Highly Compensated Officials |
No |
Projects and Jobs Information
| Projects and Jobs Information |
| Project Title |
Dissipation and Radiation of MRI-Driven Accretion Flows around Low Luminosity Black Holes |
| Project Status |
Completed |
| Final Project Report Submitted |
Yes |
| Project Activities Description |
Research & Public Policy Analysis |
| Quarterly Activities/Project Description |
The majority of the last quarter's work has revolved around compiling and completing research for inclusion in the graduate student's PhD Dissertation, "Studies of Low Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei with Monte Carlo and Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations". To this end, research on the accretion disks of Sagittarius A* and M87, dealing with their dynamics and energetics, were reconsidered and brought together to provide a cohesive review of the topic.
The bulk of the new research during this period focused on new studies regarding the formation of current sheets in MHD shearing box simulations. Using the 3D Athena code, a suite of tests was run to determine how numerical simulations can provide answers about this phenomenon. As this is a new research consideration, the emphasis was on evaluating the convergence of models based on resolution, as well as the necessary physical domain sizes required to adequately depict problems of interest. These tests were analyzed to provide motivation for future, more complete, projects, which may be used to yield input for PIC simulations of accretion disks to fully study particle energization due to current sheets. |
| Jobs Created |
0.78 |
| Description of Jobs Created |
Retained: Professor; Research Assistant. |
Purchaser Information
(Grants)
| Purchaser Information |
| Contracting Office ID |
Not Reported |
| Contracting Office Name |
Not Available |
| Contracting Office Region |
Not Available |
| TAS Major Program |
49-0101 |
| Award Information |
| Award Date |
06/12/2009 |
| Award Number |
0909167 |
| Order Number |
|
| Award Type |
Grants |
| Funding Agency ID |
49 |
| Funding Agency Name |
National Science Foundation |
| Funding Office Name |
Not Available |
| Awarding Agency ID |
49 |
| Awarding Agency Name |
National Science Foundation |
| Amount of Award |
$302,010 |
| Funds Invoiced/Received |
$302,010 |
| Expenditure Amount |
$302,010 |
| Infrastructure Expenditure Amount |
$0 |
| Infrastructure Purpose and Rationale |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Name |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Email |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Phone |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Address |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact City |
N/A |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact State |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Zip |
Not Reported |
Product or Service Information
(Grants)
| Product or Service Information |
| Primary Activity Code |
**K |
| Activity Description |
Research & Public Policy Analysis |
| Sub-Awards Information |
| Sub-awards to Organizations |
0 |
| Sub-award Amounts to Organizations |
$0 |
| Sub-Awards to Individuals |
0 |
| Sub-Award Amounts to Individuals |
$0 |
| Number of Sub-awards less than $25,000/award |
3 |
| Amount of Sub-awards less than $25,000/award |
$60 |
| Number of payments to vendors greater than $25,000 |
0 |
| Total Amount of payments to vendors greater than $25,000/award |
$0 |
| Number of payments to vendors less than $25,000/award |
3 |
| Total Amount of payments to vendors less than $25,000/award |
$1,345 |
| Location Information |
| Latitude, Longitude |
29º 43' 5",
-95º 25' 39" |
| Congressional District |
07 |
| Address 1 |
6100 Main Street |
| Address 2 |
|
| City |
Houston |
| County |
Harris |
| State |
TX |
| Zip |
77005-1892 |
|
|