Magnetohydrodynamic processes near rapidly rotating compact objects

Accretion disk models and outflow properties of compact objects (neutron st ars, black holes and black-hole tori) are generally described in terms of N ewtonian physics. Non-Newtonian gravitational forces affect, however, accre tion flows, the dynamics of electromagnetic fields and the propagation of p hotons near rapidly rotating compact objects. This has rather deep conseque nces for the understanding of Low-Mass X-Ray binary systems (LMXBs), microq uasars, supermassive black bores in the centers of galaxies, as well as for the gamma-ray bursters which are certainly the most exotic compact objects in the Universe. Outflows can efficiently be driven by Lorentz forces in r otating magnetospheres of compact objects. For rotating black holes, the di fferential rotation of absolute space generates global current systems whic h can drive the outflows of quasars and GRBs. This mechanism is based on a generalisation of the induction equation which replaces its Newtonian form for rotating spacetimes.