Talk Title: Black Hole Spin-Up via Accretion
Abstract: In the classical Novikov-Thorne model for relativistic accretion it is assumed that the angular momentum accreted per unit rest-mass is determined solely by test-particle orbital mechanics, and is therefore purely a function of black hole spin. However, when magnetic torques drive accretion, the grounds for this assumption are removed. Results from recent numerical MHD simulations in full general relativity will be reported showing that when the black hole rotates rapidly, electromagnetic couplings dramatically reduce the accreted angular momentum, potentially posing severe limits on the maximum black hole spin that can be achieved by accretion.
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