Shakura-Sunyaev Disk Can Smoothly Match Advection-Dominated Accretion Flow

We use the standard Runge-Kutta method to solve the set of basic equations describing black hole accretion flows composed of two-temperature plasma. We do not invoke any extra energy transport mechanism such as thermal conduction and do not specify any ad hoc outer boundary condition for the advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) solution. We find that in the case of high viscosity and non-zero radiative cooling, the ADAF solution can have an asymptotic approach to the Shakura-Sunyaev disk (SSD) solution, and the SSD-ADAF transition radius is close to the central black hole. Our results further prove the mechanism of thermal instability-triggered SSD-ADAF transition suggested previously by Takeuchi & Mineshige and Gu & Lu.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

A Note on the Slim Accretion Disk Model

We show that when the gravitational force is correctly calculated in dealing with the vertical hydrostatic equilibrium of black hole accretion disks, the relationship that is valid for geometrically thin disks, i.e., $c_s/\Omega_K H =$ constant, where $c_s$ is the sound speed, $\Omega_K$ is the Keplerian angular velocity, and $H$ is the half-thickness of the disk, does not hold for slim disks. More importantly, by adopting the correct vertical gravitational force in studies of thermal equilibrium solutions, we find that there exists a maximally possible accretion rate for each radius in the outer region of optically thick accretion flows, so that only the inner region of these flows can possibly take the form of slim disks, and strong outflows from the outer region are required to reduce the accretion rate in order for slim disks to be realized.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Ap

Studies of Thermally Unstable Accretion Disks around Black Holes with Adaptive Pseudo-Spectral Domain Decomposition Method I. Limit-Cycle Behavior in the Case of Moderate Viscosity

We present a numerical method for spatially 1.5-dimensional and time-dependent studies of accretion disks around black holes, that is originated from a combination of the standard pseudo-spectral method and the adaptive domain decomposition method existing in the literature, but with a number of improvements in both the numerical and physical senses. In particular, we introduce a new treatment for the connection at the interfaces of decomposed subdomains, construct an adaptive function for the mapping between the Chebyshev-Gauss-Lobatto collocation points and the physical collocation points in each subdomain, and modify the over-simplified 1-dimensional basic equations of accretion flows to account for the effects of viscous stresses in both the azimuthal and radial directions. Our method is verified by reproducing the best results obtained previously by Szuszkiewicz & Miller on the limit-cycle behavior of thermally unstable accretion disks with moderate viscosity. A new finding is that, according to our computations, the Bernoulli function of the matter in such disks is always and everywhere negative, so that outflows are unlikely to originate from these disks. We are encouraged to study the more difficult case of thermally unstable accretion disks with strong viscosity, and wish to report our results in a subsequent paper.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, accepted by Ap

Global Dynamics of Advection-Dominated Accretion Revisited

We numerically solve the set of dynamical equations describing advection-dominated accretion flows (ADAF) around black holes, using a method similar to that of Chakrabarti (1996a). We choose the sonic radius of the flow $R_s$ and the integration constant in angular momentum equation $j$ as free parameters, and integrate the equations from the sonic point inwards to see if the solution can extend supersonically to the black hole horizon, and outwards to see if and where an acceptable outer boundary of the flow can be found. We recover the ADAF-thin disk solution constructed in Narayan, Kato, & Honma (1997, NKH97), an representative paper of the previous works on global ADAF solutions, although in that paper an apparently very different procedure was adopted. We obtain a complete picture in the form of $R_s-j$ parameter space which sums up the situation of ADAF solution at a glance. For comparison we also present the distribution of global solutions for inviscid flows in the $R_s-j$ space, which supports the view that there should be some similarities between the dynamical behavior of ADAF and that of adiabatic flows, and that there should be a continuous change from the properties of viscous flows to those of inviscid ones.Comment: 24 pages with 15 figures, to appear in ApJ Vol. 52

Geometric Random Inner Products: A New Family of Tests for Random Number Generators

We present a new computational scheme, GRIP (Geometric Random Inner Products), for testing the quality of random number generators. The GRIP formalism utilizes geometric probability techniques to calculate the average scalar products of random vectors generated in geometric objects, such as circles and spheres. We show that these average scalar products define a family of geometric constants which can be used to evaluate the quality of random number generators. We explicitly apply the GRIP tests to several random number generators frequently used in Monte Carlo simulations, and demonstrate a new statistical property for good random number generators

The role of N∗(1535)N^*(1535) in pp→ppϕpp \to pp \phi and π−p→nϕ\pi^- p \to n \phi reactions

The near threshold $\phi$ meson production in proton-proton and $\pi^- p$ collisions is studied with the assumption that the production mechanism is due to the sub-$N\phi$-threshold $N^*(1535)$ resonance. The $\pi^0$, $\eta$ and $\rho^0$-meson exchanges for proton-proton collisions are considered. It is shown that the contribution to the $pp \to pp \phi$ reaction from the t-channel $\pi^0$ meson exchange is dominant. With a significant $N^*(1535)N\phi$ coupling ($g^2_{N^*(1535)N \phi}/4 \pi$ = 0.13), both $pp \to pp \phi$ and $\pi^- p \to n \phi$ data are very well reproduced. The significant coupling of the $N^*(1535)$ resonance to $N \phi$ is compatible with previous indications of a large $s \bar{s}$ component in the quark wave function of the $N^*(1535)$ resonance and may be the real origin of the significant enhancement of the $\phi$ production over the naive OZI-rule predictions.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

Approach to endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (EERPE): the impact of previous laparoscopic experience on the learning curve

BACKGROUND: We report our approach regarding the technique of endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (EERPE) and analyze the learning curve of two surgeons after thorough technical training under expert monitoring. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of expert monitoring on the surgical outcome and whether previous laparoscopic experience influences the surgeon's learning curve. METHODS: EERPE was performed on 120 consecutive patients by two surgeons with different experience in laparoscopy. An analysis and comparison of their learning curve was made. RESULTS: Median operation time: 200 (110-415) minutes. Complications: no conversion, blood transfusion (1.7%), rectal injury (3.3%). Median catheterisation time: 6 (5-45) days. Histopathological data: 55% pT2, 45% pT3 with a positive surgical margin rate of 6.1% and 46%, respectively. After 12 months, 78% of the patients were continent, 22% used 1 or more pad. Potency rate with or without PDE-5-inhibitors was 66% with bilateral and 31% with unilateral nerve-sparing, respectively. Operation time was the only parameter to differ significantly between the two surgeons. CONCLUSION: EERPE can be learned within a short teaching phase. Previous laparoscopic experience is reflected by shorter operation times, not by lower complication rates or superior early oncological data

The role of the outer boundary condition in accretion disk models: theory and application

The influence of the outer boundary condition (OBC) on the dynamics and radiation of optically thin accretion flow is investigated. Bremsstrahlung and synchrotron radiations amplified by Comptonization are taken into account and two-temperature plasma assumption is adopted. The three OBCs we adopted are the temperatures of the electrons and ions and the specific angular momentum of the accretion flow at a certain outer boundary. We find that when the general parameters such as the mass accretion rate and the viscous parameter are fixed, the peak flux at various bands such as radio, IR and X-ray, can differ by as large as several orders of magnitude under different OBCs in our example. Our results indicate that OBC is both dynamically and radiatively important therefore should be regarded as a new ``parameter'' in accretion disk models. We apply the above results to the compact radio source Sgr A* and find that the discrepancy between the mass accretion rate favored by ADAF models in the literature and that favored by the three dimensional hydrodynamical simulation can be naturally resolved by seriously considering the outer boundary condition of the accretion flow.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures,accepted by the Astrophysical Journa

Impact of technological blockchain paradigm on the movement of intellectual property in the digital space

The article is dedicated to investigate the problem of influence of cutting edge digital technology on the virtual and real legal relations, related to the movement and the turnover of intellectual property. Using the method of analyzing modern definitions of blockchain, and relying on the political-economic theory of social redistribution of wealth, authors define the term blockchain and its principles as a technological paradigm. Authors conclude the fact that blockchain can be used to guarantee intellectual property rights and it should be accepted at the national level. As a mechanism of a trusted environment, blockchain allows to reduce transaction costs and increase the level of commercialization of intellectual property.peer-reviewe