ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF ACCRETION FLOWS WITH SMALL, NONZERO SPECIFIC ANGULAR-MOMENTUM

The morphology of adiabatic accretion flows with small non-zero specif ic angular momentum has been investigated in the axisymmetric and non- viscous limit. For an initial state characterized by a Bondi flow with the specific angular momentum distributed with respect to polar angle , a travelling shock wave forms which propagates more rapidly in the e quatorial plane than in the plane perpendicular to it, resulting in th e formation of a hot torus. In cases where the incoming flow is restri cted to lie near the equatorial plane, a strong wind forms directed aw ay from this plane with the tendency for the formation of a non-steady shock structure. As the height of the incoming flow is increased, it is found that the resultant wind weakens. The parameter regime which d elineates accretion flows characterized by a travelling shock and a ne arly standing shock structure is presented.