We subject the stationary solutions of inviscid and axially symmetric
rotational accretion to a time-dependent radial perturbation, which includes
nonlinearity to any arbitrary order. Regardless of the order of nonlinearity,
the equation of the perturbation bears a form that is similar to the metric
equation of an analogue acoustic black hole. We bring out the time dependence
of the perturbation in the form of a Li\'enard system, by requiring the
perturbation to be a standing wave under the second order of nonlinearity. We
perform a dynamical systems analysis of the Li\'enard system to reveal a saddle
point in real time, whose implication is that instabilities will develop in the
accreting system when the perturbation is extended into the nonlinear regime.
We also model the perturbation as a high-frequency travelling wave, and carry
out a Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin analysis, treating nonlinearity iteratively as
a very feeble effect. Under this approach both the amplitude and the energy
flux of the perturbation exhibit growth, with the acoustic horizon segregating
the regions of stability and instability.Comment: 15 pages, ReVTeX. Substantially revised with respect to the previous
version. One figure and a new section on travelling waves (Sec. VI) have been
added. The bibliography has been revised. arXiv admin note: substantial text
overlap with arXiv:1207.107
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