Magnetic toys in the sky

Yuri Levin (Monash University)

January 18, 2016

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Abstract: In terrestrial conditions, magnetic fields usually play second fiddle to matter. However, in space magnetic fields can play a decisive role in dynamics of many astrophysical objects. In my talk I will describe several interesting magnetic structures that do not have counterparts in terrestrial conditions: 1. Accretion discs around supermassive black holes that are in a state of magnetic levitation 2. Magnetically driven hurricane-like deflagration fronts that are explosively consuming oceans on rapidly spinning neutron stars. 3. Avalanches of magnetically-induced thermoplastic failures in magnetar crusts that my be connected to the observed activity of magnetars.