On the stream-disk interaction in accreting compact objects

The interaction between the stream of material originating from the inner Lagrangian point L(1) and the accretion disk is studied in the framework of an idealized picture of hypersonic flow. When strong simplifying assumptions are made, fully analytic solutions are found for the physical quantities of the shock matter flowing above and below the disk surface. The three-dimensional problem is solved numerically, using a pseudoparticle method. The results are found to depend critically on the strength of the viscous interaction which determines the rate of stream stripping. Various degrees of stream penetration and the formation of dense bulges can be obtained. The results are discussed in relation to observations of compact X-ray sources and cataclysmic variables. 30 references.