The Missing Link between Black Holes in High-mass X-Ray Binaries and Gravitational-wave Sources: Observational Selection Effects
There are few observed high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) that harbor massive black holes (BHs), and none are likely to result in a binary black hole (BBH) that merges within a Hubble time; however, we know that massive merging BBHs exist from gravitational-wave (GW) observations. We investigate the r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acb8b2 |
| _version_ | 1797701948788441088 |
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| author | Camille Liotine Michael Zevin Christopher P. L. Berry Zoheyr Doctor Vicky Kalogera |
| author_facet | Camille Liotine Michael Zevin Christopher P. L. Berry Zoheyr Doctor Vicky Kalogera |
| author_sort | Camille Liotine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There are few observed high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) that harbor massive black holes (BHs), and none are likely to result in a binary black hole (BBH) that merges within a Hubble time; however, we know that massive merging BBHs exist from gravitational-wave (GW) observations. We investigate the role that X-ray and GW observational selection effects play in determining the properties of their respective detected binary populations. We find that, as a result of selection effects, detectable HMXBs and detectable BBHs form at different redshifts and metallicities, with detectable HMXBs forming at much lower redshifts and higher metallicities than detectable BBHs. We also find disparities in the mass distributions of these populations, with detectable merging BBH progenitors pulling to higher component masses relative to the full detectable HMXB population. Fewer than 3% of detectable HMXBs host BHs >35 M _⊙ in our simulated populations. Furthermore, we find the probability that a detectable HMXB will merge as a BBH system within a Hubble time is ≃0.6%. Thus, it is unsurprising that no currently observed HMXB is predicted to form a merging BBH with high probability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:43:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f6162517ecd478a8512141fedaf2b04 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:43:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f6162517ecd478a8512141fedaf2b042023-09-03T09:30:41ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572023-01-019461410.3847/1538-4357/acb8b2The Missing Link between Black Holes in High-mass X-Ray Binaries and Gravitational-wave Sources: Observational Selection EffectsCamille Liotine0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8883-3351Michael Zevin1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0147-0835Christopher P. L. Berry2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3870-7215Zoheyr Doctor3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2077-4914Vicky Kalogera4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9236-5469Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), Northwestern University , 1800 Sherman, Evanston, IL 60201, USA cliotine@u.northwestern.edu; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USAKavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, The University of Chicago , 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago , 933 East 56th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USACenter for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), Northwestern University , 1800 Sherman, Evanston, IL 60201, USA cliotine@u.northwestern.edu; Institute for Gravitational Research, University of Glasgow, Kelvin Building, University Avenue , Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UKCenter for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), Northwestern University , 1800 Sherman, Evanston, IL 60201, USA cliotine@u.northwestern.eduCenter for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), Northwestern University , 1800 Sherman, Evanston, IL 60201, USA cliotine@u.northwestern.edu; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USAThere are few observed high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) that harbor massive black holes (BHs), and none are likely to result in a binary black hole (BBH) that merges within a Hubble time; however, we know that massive merging BBHs exist from gravitational-wave (GW) observations. We investigate the role that X-ray and GW observational selection effects play in determining the properties of their respective detected binary populations. We find that, as a result of selection effects, detectable HMXBs and detectable BBHs form at different redshifts and metallicities, with detectable HMXBs forming at much lower redshifts and higher metallicities than detectable BBHs. We also find disparities in the mass distributions of these populations, with detectable merging BBH progenitors pulling to higher component masses relative to the full detectable HMXB population. Fewer than 3% of detectable HMXBs host BHs >35 M _⊙ in our simulated populations. Furthermore, we find the probability that a detectable HMXB will merge as a BBH system within a Hubble time is ≃0.6%. Thus, it is unsurprising that no currently observed HMXB is predicted to form a merging BBH with high probability.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acb8b2Gravitational wave sourcesHigh mass x-ray binary starsStellar mass black holes |
| spellingShingle | Camille Liotine Michael Zevin Christopher P. L. Berry Zoheyr Doctor Vicky Kalogera The Missing Link between Black Holes in High-mass X-Ray Binaries and Gravitational-wave Sources: Observational Selection Effects The Astrophysical Journal Gravitational wave sources High mass x-ray binary stars Stellar mass black holes |
| title | The Missing Link between Black Holes in High-mass X-Ray Binaries and Gravitational-wave Sources: Observational Selection Effects |
| title_full | The Missing Link between Black Holes in High-mass X-Ray Binaries and Gravitational-wave Sources: Observational Selection Effects |
| title_fullStr | The Missing Link between Black Holes in High-mass X-Ray Binaries and Gravitational-wave Sources: Observational Selection Effects |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Missing Link between Black Holes in High-mass X-Ray Binaries and Gravitational-wave Sources: Observational Selection Effects |
| title_short | The Missing Link between Black Holes in High-mass X-Ray Binaries and Gravitational-wave Sources: Observational Selection Effects |
| title_sort | missing link between black holes in high mass x ray binaries and gravitational wave sources observational selection effects |
| topic | Gravitational wave sources High mass x-ray binary stars Stellar mass black holes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acb8b2 |
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