Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of accretion disks around a weakly magnetized neutron star in strong gravity

Abstract We carried out two dimensional high-resolution magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of an accretion disk around a weakly magnetized neutron star. General relativistic effects are taken into account by using pseudo-Newtonian potential of Paczýnski, B., P.J. Witta (1980). When magnetic loops connect the neutron star and the accretion disk, the twist injection from the disk or from the rotating neutron star triggers expansion of the loops. Since the expanding magnetic loops prevent inflow toward the magnetic poles of the neutron star, disk matter accumulates on the boundary between the magnetosphere and the disk. Magnetic reconnection taking place in the loops creates a channel along which the disk matter can accrete and unloads the magnetosphere. This process produces quasi-periodic variation of the accretion flow in the innermost region of the disk. We found two kinds of oscillations. One is the magnetospheric oscillation regulated by magnetic reconnection. The other is the radial disk oscillation. The typical frequency of the oscillations is 100 Hz to 2 kHz. Furthermore, we predict that QPO sources inevitably accompany X-ray flares by magnetic reconnection and bipolar outflows of hot X-ray emitting plasma similar to the optical jets in protostars.