On the effects of the stellar magnetic field on the structure of T Tauri accretion discs

Abstract

The structure of accretion discs around magnetic T Tauri stars is numerically calculated using a particle hydrodynamical code, in which magnetic interaction is included in the framework of King's diamagnetic blob accretion model. Setting up the calculation so as to simulate the density structure of a quasi-steady disc in the equatorial plane of a T Tauri star, we find that the central star's magnetic field typically produces a central hole in the disc and spreads out the surface density distribution. We argue that this result suggests a promising mechanism for explaining the unusual flatness (IR excess) of T Tauri accretion disc spectra.