Bondi-Hoyle Accretion in an Isothermal Magnetized Plasma

Understand

In regions of star formation, protostars and newborn stars accrete mass from their natal clouds.

• These clouds are threaded by magnetic fields with a strength characterized by the plasma beta---the ratio of thermal and magnetic pressures.
• Observations show molecular clouds have beta <= 1, so magnetic fields can play a significant role in the accretion process.
• We have carried out a numerical study of the effect of large-scale magnetic fields on the rate of accretion onto a uniformly moving point particle from a uniform, non-self-gravitating, isothermal gas.