A hidden friend for the galactic center black hole, Sgr A*
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arXiv
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| Autori principali: | , , , , , |
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| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2019
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| _version_ | 1866912473741787136 |
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| author | Naoz, Smadar Will, Clifford M. Ramirez-Ruiz, Enrico Hees, Aurelien Ghez, Andrea M. Do, Tuan |
| author_facet | Naoz, Smadar Will, Clifford M. Ramirez-Ruiz, Enrico Hees, Aurelien Ghez, Andrea M. Do, Tuan |
| contents | The hierarchical nature of galaxy formation suggests that a supermassive black hole binary could exist in our galactic center. We propose a new approach to constraining the possible orbital configuration of such a binary companion to the galactic center black hole Sgr A* through the measurement of stellar orbits. Focusing on the star S0-2, we show that requiring its orbital stability in the presence of a companion to Sgr A* yields stringent constraints on the possible configurations of such a companion. Furthermore, we show that precise measurements of {\it time variations} in the orbital parameters of S0-2 could yield stronger constraints. Using existing data on S0-2 we derive upper limits on the binary black hole separation as a function of the companion mass. For the case of a circular orbit, we can rule out a 10^5 M_sun companion with a semimajor axis greater than 170 astronomical units or 0.8 mpc. This is already more stringent than bounds obtained from studies of the proper motion of Sgr A*. Including other stars orbiting the galactic center should yield stronger constraints that could help uncover the presence of a companion to Sgr A*. We show that a companion can also affect the accretion process, resulting in a variability which may be consistent with the measured infrared flaring timescales and amplitudes. Finally, if such a companion exists, it will emit gravitational wave radiation, potentially detectable with LISA. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_1912_04910 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | A hidden friend for the galactic center black hole, Sgr A* Naoz, Smadar Will, Clifford M. Ramirez-Ruiz, Enrico Hees, Aurelien Ghez, Andrea M. Do, Tuan Astrophysics of Galaxies High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology The hierarchical nature of galaxy formation suggests that a supermassive black hole binary could exist in our galactic center. We propose a new approach to constraining the possible orbital configuration of such a binary companion to the galactic center black hole Sgr A* through the measurement of stellar orbits. Focusing on the star S0-2, we show that requiring its orbital stability in the presence of a companion to Sgr A* yields stringent constraints on the possible configurations of such a companion. Furthermore, we show that precise measurements of {\it time variations} in the orbital parameters of S0-2 could yield stronger constraints. Using existing data on S0-2 we derive upper limits on the binary black hole separation as a function of the companion mass. For the case of a circular orbit, we can rule out a 10^5 M_sun companion with a semimajor axis greater than 170 astronomical units or 0.8 mpc. This is already more stringent than bounds obtained from studies of the proper motion of Sgr A*. Including other stars orbiting the galactic center should yield stronger constraints that could help uncover the presence of a companion to Sgr A*. We show that a companion can also affect the accretion process, resulting in a variability which may be consistent with the measured infrared flaring timescales and amplitudes. Finally, if such a companion exists, it will emit gravitational wave radiation, potentially detectable with LISA. |
| title | A hidden friend for the galactic center black hole, Sgr A* |
| topic | Astrophysics of Galaxies High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/1912.04910 |