Clarify the connection between disk warping and black-hole momentum transfer

Clarify whether the azimuthal mode structure and time-dependent warping of magnetically arrested collapsar accretion disks are causally connected to the linear momentum transferred to the black hole.

Background

The simulations find sustained, non-axisymmetric disk warping, dominated by the m=1m=1 mode with contributions from higher harmonics. However, the measured warp power spectrum shows no significant correlation with the linear momentum transfer to the black hole. The authors therefore leave unresolved whether a relationship exists at higher frequencies that cannot be practically resolved in the long-duration simulations.

References

We find no significant correlation between the power spectrum and the linear momentum transfer to the BH; it is possible that their relationship is evident only at frequencies higher than are practical to resolve in these long-duration simulations.

— Strong Black Hole Natal Kicks in Magnetized Accretion-Powered Explosions  (2609.10694 - Li et al., 9 Sep 2026) in Appendix, Section “Disk Warping”