Dynamic Accretion Discs in Astrophysics

Accretion discs are a basic building block of many astrophysical systems.

The discs that are observed around young stars are where planets form, and those found around white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes generate spectacular luminosities and variability.

It is now possible to develop sophisticated numerical models for the behaviour of these discs, but there is still much to be understood.

This project seeks to develop our understanding of accretion disc dynamics through both analytical and numerical modelling.

This will build on our existing research using state-of-the-art numerical simulation codes on both local and national high-performance computing (HPC) facilities. The aim is to develop theoretical models that can be used to understand observational data from accreting systems.

Accretion discs are fundamental to many astrophysical systems, so we anticipate applying these models to a range of systems from protoplanetary discs around young stars to matter orbiting black holes.