Cold Chaotic Accretion in M87: A GRMHD Approach to Understanding Black Hole Feeding

Ishika Palit^1*

¹Institute of Astronomy, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu city, Taiwan

* Presenter:Ishika Palit, email:v01853@phys.nthu.edu.tw

The supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of M87, the brightest galaxy in the Virgo cluster, exhibits both low
luminosity and high variability. In massive galaxy clusters, SMBHs are thought to be fueled by various mechanisms,
including cold chaotic accretion (CCA). However, the complexities of the CCA process, especially given the vast dynamic
range involved, remain incompletely understood. To address these challenges, we employ general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations of M87, using boundary conditions that mimic the infall of cold filaments and clouds,
replicating the CCA scenario. Our study investigates the dynamics of gas accretion onto SMBHs, exploring the intricate
interactions between turbulent cold gas flows, angular momentum cancellation, and thermalization via ADAF accretion.
By linking the small-scale physics of accretion to larger galactic dynamics, we aim to uncover the mechanisms driving
variability in the mass accretion rate and their impact on galaxy evolution. In particular, the study of infalling cold gas clouds
offers critical insights into the variability of the inner accretion flow, shedding light on SMBH feeding mechanisms and the
resulting variability in galactic centers.

Keywords: Supermassive black holes, Accretion, Numerical simulation,, High energy astrophysics