Grmonty: A Monte Carlo code for relativistic radiative transport

Joshua C. Dolence, Charles F. Gammie, Monika Mościbrodzka, Po Kin Leung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We describe a Monte Carlo radiative transport code intended for calculating spectra of hot, optically thin plasmas in full general relativity. The version we describe here is designed to model hot accretion flows in the Kerr metric and therefore incorporates synchrotron emission and absorption, and Compton scattering. The code can be readily generalized, however, to account for other radiative processes and an arbitrary spacetime. We describe a suite of test problems, and demonstrate the expected N -1/2 convergence rate, where N is the number of Monte Carlo samples. Finally, we illustrate the capabilities of the code with a model calculation, a spectrum of the slowly accreting black hole Sgr A* based on data provided by a numerical general relativistic MHD model of the accreting plasma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)387-397
Number of pages11
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume184
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

Keywords

  • MHD
  • Methods: Numerical
  • Radiative transfer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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