Theory 14/Plasma Astrophysics
Accretion States Follow a Time Ratio
The claim
The transition between hard and soft accretion states is set by the ratio of cooling time to heating time in the inner flow, not by accretion rate alone.
01The mechanism
The state depends on whether electrons cool before they are re-energised; when cooling wins, the flow collapses into a thin disc, and when heating wins it stays hot.
02Predictions
- P1Transition should track the time ratio.
- P2Mass accretion rate alone should mispredict hysteresis.
03Refutation
State transitions tracking accretion rate would remove the ratio.