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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 August 2017
The problem of the stability of wind accretion onto compact objects is examined. Recent analytical and numerical calculations show that in two dimensions, Bondi-Hoyle accretion flows are unstable to a “flip-flop” instability. The instability can manifest itself as bursts in the accretion rate and as a random walk-type spin-up, spin-down behaviour of the accreting compact object. The nature of the flow in three dimensions needs further clarification. Possible observational implications are reviewed.