Constraints on individual supermassive binary black holes using observations of PSR J1909-3744

We perform a search for gravitational waves(GWs) from several supermassive binary black hole(SMBBH) candidates(NGC 5548, Mrk 231, OJ 287, PG 1302–102, NGC 4151, Ark 120 and 3C 66B) in long-term timing observations of the pulsar PSR J1909-3744 obtained using the Parkes radio telescope.No statistically significant signals were found. We constrain the chirp masses of those SMBBH candidates and find the chirp mass of NGC 5548 and 3C 66B to be less than 2.4 × 10^9 M⊙ and 2.5 × 10^9 M⊙(with 95% confidence), respectively. Our upper limits remain a factor of 3 to 370 above the likely chirp masses for these candidates as estimated from other approaches. The observations processed here provide upper limits on the GW strain amplitude that improve upon the results from the first Parkes Pulsar Timing Array data release by a factor of 2 to 7. We investigate how information about the orbital parameters can help to improve the search sensitivity for individual SMBBH systems. Finally, we show that these limits are insensitive to uncertainties in the Solar System ephemeris model.

Variations of broad emission lines from periodicity QSOs under the interpretation of supermassive binary black holes with misaligned circumbinary broad line regions

Quasars with periodic light curves are considered as candidates of supermassive binary black hole(BBH)systems.One way for further confirmations may be searching for other characteristic signatures,such as those in their broad emission lines(BELs),if any,which require a thorough understanding on the response of BELs to the BBH systems.In Ji et al.(2021),we have investigated the response of circumbinary broad line region(BLR)to the central active secondary black hole under the relativistic Doppler boosting(BBH-DB)and intrinsic variation(BBH-IntDB)dominant mechanisms for continuum variation by assuming the middle plane of the BLR aligned with the BBH orbital plane.In this paper,we explore how the BEL profiles vary when the BLR is misaligned from the BBH orbital plane with different offset angles under both the BBH-DB and BBH-IntDB scenarios.Given a fixed inclination angle of the BBH orbital plane viewed in edge-on and similar continuum light curves produced by the two scenarios,increasing offset angles make the initial opening angle of the circumbinary BLR enlarged due to orbital precession caused by the BBH system,especially for clouds in the inner region,which result in Lorentzlike BEL profiles for the BBH-DB model but still Gaussion-like profiles for the BBH-IntDB model at the vertical BLR case.The amplitude of profile variations decreases with increasing offset angles for the BBHDB scenario,while keeps nearly constant for the BBH-IntDB scenario,since the Doppler boosting effect is motion direction preferred but the intrinsic variation is radiated isotropically.If the circumbinary BLR is composed of a coplanar and a vertical components with their number of clouds following the mass ratio of the BBHs,then the bi-BLR features are more significant for the BBH-IntDB model that requires larger mass ratio to generate similar continuum variation than the BBH-DB model.

Dynamics and collisions of episodic jets from black holes and accretion disk systems

In many astrophysical black hole systems, episodic jets of plasma blobs have been observed, which are much faster and more powerful than continuous jets. A magnetohydrodynamical model was proposed by Yuan et al. to study the formation of episodic jets in Sgr A＊. By taking Sgr A＊ and a stellar mass black hole as examples, we modify the model of Yuan et al. by including the effects of relativity, and further study the relativistic motion and expansion of episodic jets of plasma blobs. Then we study the collision between two consecutive ejections in the modified model, and calculate the magnetic energy released in the collision. Our results show two consecutive blobs can collide with each other, and the released magnetic energy is more than 1050 erg, which supports the idea that a gamma-ray burst is powered by the collision of episodic jets, as suggested by Yuan ＆ Zhang.

Transonic Accretion and Winds Around Pseudo-Kerr Black Holes And Comparison with General Relativistic Solutions

Spectral and timing properties of accretion flows on a black hole depend on their density and temperature distributions,which in turn come from the underlying dynamics.Thus,an accurate description of the flow which includes hydrodynamics and radiative transfer is a must to interpret the observational results.In the case of nonrotating black holes,a pseudo-Newtonian description of surrounding spacetime enables one to make significant progress in predicting spectral and timing properties.This formalism is lacking for spinning black holes.In this paper,we show that there exists an exact form of a"natural"potential derivable from the general relativistic(GR)radial momentum equation.Use of this potential in an otherwise Newtonian set of equations allows to describe transonic flows very accurately as is evidenced by comparing with solutions obtained from the full GR framework.We study the properties of the critical points and the centrifugal pressure supported shocks in the parameter space spanned by the specific energy and angular momentum,and compare with the results of GR hydrodynamics.We show that this potential can safely be used for the entire range of Kerr parameter-1<a<1 for modeling of observational results around spinning black holes.We assume the flow to be inviscid.Thus,it is non-dissipative with constant energy and angular momentum.These assumptions are valid very close to the black hole as the infall timescale is much shorter as compared to the viscous timescale.

Transition from radiatively inefficient to cooling dominated phase in two temperature accretion disks around black holes

We investigate the transition of a radiatively inefficient phase of a viscous two temperature accreting flow to a cooling dominated phase and vice versa around black holes. Based on a global sub-Keplerian accretion disk model in steady state, including explicit cooling processes self-consistently, we show that general advective accretion flow passes through various phases during its infall towards a black hole. Bremsstrahlung, syn- chrotron and inverse Comptonization of soft photons are considered as possible cooling mechanisms. Hence the flow governs a much lower electron temperature ～10^8 - 10^9.5 K compared to the hot protons of temperature ～10^10.2 - 10^11.8 K in the range of the accretion rate in Eddington units 0.01≤M≤ 100. Therefore, the solutions may potentially explain the hard X-rays and the γ-rays emitted from AGNs and X-ray binaries. We finally compare the solutions for two different regimes of viscosity and conclude that a weakly viscous flow is expected to be cooling dominated compared to its highly viscous counterpart which is radiatively inefficient. The flow is successfully able to reproduce the observed luminosities of the under-fed AGNs and quasars （e.g. Sgr A＊）, ultra-luminous X-ray sources （e.g. SS433）, as well as the highly luminous AGNs and ultra-luminous quasars （e.g. PKS 0743-67） at different combinations of the mass accretion rate and ratio of specific heats.

Gamma-ray Bursts: a Probe of Black Holes

There is strong evidence for the existence of black holes (BHs) in some X-ray binaries and in most galactic nuclei based on different types of measurement, but black holes have not been definitely identified for the lack of very firm observational evidence up to now. Because direct evidence for BHs should come from determination of strong gravitational redshift, we expect an object can fall into the region near the BH horizon where radiation can be detected. Therefore the object must be a compact star such as a neutron star (NS), and intense astrophysical processes will release highly energetic radiation that is transient and fast-varying. These characteristics may point to the observed gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Recent observations of iron lines suggest that afterglows of GRBs show properties similar to those observed in active galactic nuclei (AGNs), implying that the GRBs may originate from intense events related to black holes. A model for GRBs and after-glows is proposed here to obtain the range of gravitational redshifts (zg) of GRBs with known cosmological redshifts. Here, we provide a new method that, with a search for high-energy emission lines (X- or -γ-rays) in GRBs, one can determine the gravitational redshift. We expect zg to be 0.5 or even larger, so we can rule out the possibility of other compact objects such as NSs, and identify the central progenitors of GRBs as black holes.

Primordial black holes

Primordial black holes （PBHs） are a profound signature of primordial cosmological structures and provide a theoretical tool to study nontrivial physics of the early Universe. The mechanisms of PBH formation are discussed and observational constraints on the PBH spectrum, or effects of PBH evaporation, are shown to restrict a wide range of particle physics models, predicting an enhancement of the ultraviolet part of the spectrum of density perturbations, early dust-like stages, first order phase transitions and stages of superheavy metastable particle dominance in the early Universe. The mechanism of closed wall contraction can lead, in the inflationary Universe, to a new approach to galaxy formation, involving primordial clouds of massive BHs created around the intermediate mass or supermassive BH and playing the role of galactic seeds.

Geometry and thermodynamics of smeared Reissner–Nordstrm black holes in d-dimensional AdS spacetime

We construct a family of d-dimensional Reissner–Nordstrom-AdS black holes inspired by noncommutative geometry. The density distribution of the gravitational source is determined by the dimension of space, the minimum length of spacetime l, and other parameters（e.g., n relating to the central matter density）. The curvature of the center and some thermodynamic properties of these black holes are investigated. We find that the center of the source is nonsingular for n 0（under certain conditions it is also nonsingular for-2 n 〈 0）, and the properties at the event horizon, including the Hawking temperature, entropy, and heat capacity, are regular for n 〉-2. Due to the presence of l, there is an exponentially small correction to the usual entropy.

Constraining the Earth-mass Primordial Black Hole Mergers Model of the Non-repeating FRBs Using the First CHIME/FRB Catalog

In this paper,we upgrade the constraints for the Earth-mass primordial black hole mergers model based on the first Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment(CHIME)/fast radio burst(FRB)catalog.Assuming the null hypothesis that the observed non-repeating FRBs originate from Earth-mass primordial black hole mergers,we find that how the charges were distributed in the primordial black hole population is well described by a double powerlaw function with typical charge value of law function with typical charge value of q_(c)/10^(-5)=1.60_(-0.28)^(+0.28),where the power-law index α_(1)=2.33_(-0.18)^(+0.15) for q<q_(c) and α_(2)=4.56_(-0.26)^(+0.30)for q≥q_(c).Here,q represents the charge of the black hole in units of√GM,where M is the mass of the black hole.Furthermore,we infer the local event rate of the bursts is 8.8_(-2.1)^(+5.7)×10^(4)Gpc^(-3) yr^(-1),which indicates that an abundance of the primordial black hole population f■10^(-4) is needed to account for the observed FRBs by CHIME.The results of this paper lay the basis for further research on the electromagnetic radiation background generated by the merger of primordial black hole mergers.

Charged Particles Capture Cross-section by a Weakly Charged Schwarzschild Black Hole

We study the capture cross-section of charged particles by a weakly charged Schwarzschild black hole.The dependence of the maximum impact parameter for capture on the particle’s energy is investigated numerically for different values of the electromagnetic coupling strength between the particle and the black hole.The capture cross-section is then calculated.We show that the capture cross-section is independent of the electromagnetic coupling for ultra-relativistic particles.The astrophysical implications of our results are discussed.

Horizon area spectrum and entropy spectrum of a noncommutative geometry inspired regular black hole in three dimensions

By employing an adiabatic invariant and implementing the Bohr- Sommerfield quantization rule, I study the quantization of a regular black hole in- spired by noncommutative geometry in AdS3 spacetime. The entropy spectrum as well as the horizon area spectrum of the black hole is obtained. It is shown that the spectra are discrete, and the spacing of the entropy spectrum is equidistant; in the limit rh2/4θ ≥1, the area spectrum depends on the noncommutative parameter and the cos- mological constant, but the spacing of the area spectrum is equidistant up to leading order √θe- 2Ml2/θ in θ, and is independent of the noncommutative parameter and the cosmological constant.

The debeamed luminosity, sychrotron peak frequency and black hole mass of BL Lac objects

We estimate the intrinsic luminosities and synchrotron peak frequencies using the derived Doppler factor for a sample of 170 BL Lac objects, of which the synchrotron peak frequency is derived by fitting the SED constructed with the collected multi-band data from the literature. We find that the debeamed radio and optical core luminosities follow the same correlation found for FR I radio galaxies, which is in support of the unification of the BL Lac objects and the FR I galaxies based on orientation. For the debeamed luminosity at the synchrotron peak frequency, we find a significant positive correlation between the luminosity and intrinsic synchrotron peak frequency. This implies that the more powerful sources may have the majority of jet emission at higher frequency. At the synchrotron peak frequency, the intrinsic luminosity and black hole mass show strong positive correlation, while mild correlation is found in the case of jet power, indicating that the more powerful sources may have more massive black holes.

The relation between black hole masses and Lorentz factors of the jet components in blazars

We explore the relationship between black hole mass （MBH） and the motion of the jet components for a sample of blazars. The Very Long Baseline Array （VLBA） 2 cm Survey and its continuation： Monitoring of Jets in active galactic nuclei （AGNs） with VLBA Experiments （MOJAVE） have observed 278 radio-loud AGNs, of which 146 blazars have reliable measurements of their apparent velocities of the jet components. We calculate the minimal Lorentz factors for these sources from their measured apparent velocities, and their black hole masses are estimated with their broad-line widths. A significant intrinsic correlation is found between black hole masses and the minimal Lorentz factors of the jet components. The Eddington ratio is only weakly correlated with the minimal Lorentz factor, which may imply that the Blandford-Znajek （BZ） mechanism may dominate over the Blandford-Payne （BP） mechanism for the jet acceleration （at least） in blazars.

The Binary Black Hole Scenario for the BL Lacertae Object AO 0235+16

Recent analysis of the long term radio light curve of the extremely variableBL Lacertae object AO 0235+16 by Raiteri et al. have revealed the presence of recurrent outburstswith a period of ～ 5.7 +- 0.5 yr. Periodicity analysis of the optical light curve also showsevidence for a shorter period. Here we discuss whether such a behavior can be explained by a binaryblack hole model where the accretion disk of one of the supermassive black holes is precessing dueto the tidal effects of the companion. We estimate the mass of the accreting hole and analyzeconstraints on the secondary mass and the orbital parameters of the system. It is possible toprovide a viable interpretation of the available multiwavelength data.

Does black hole spin play a key role in the FSRQ/BL Lac dichotomy?

Blazars are characterized by large intensity and spectral variations across the electromagnetic spectrum It is believed that jets emerging from them are almost aligned with the line-of-sight. The major- ity of identified extragalactic sources in γ-ray catalogs of EGRET and Fermi are blazars. Observationally, blazars can be divided into two classes： fiat spectrum radio quasars （FSRQs） and BL Lacs. BL Lacs usually exhibit lower γ-ray luminosity and harder power law spectra at γ-ray energies than FSRQs. We attempt to explain the high energy properties of FSRQs and BL Lacs from Fermi γ-ray space telescope observations. It was argued previously that the difference in accretion rates is mainly responsible for the large mismatch in observed luminosity in ＂7-ray. However, when intrinsic luminosities are derived by correcting for beaming effects, this difference in 7-ray luminosity between the two classes is significantly reduced. In order to ex- plain this difference in intrinsic luminosities, we propose that spin plays an important role in the luminosity distribution dichotomy of BL Lacs and FSRQs. As the outflow power of a blazar increases with increasing spin of a central black hole, we suggest that the spin plays a crucial role in making BL Lac sources low luminous and slow rotators compared to FSRQ sources.

Radio Luminosity,Black Hole Mass and Eddington Ratio for Quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We investigate the MBH-σ＊ relation for radio-loud quasars with redshifl z 〈 0.83 in Data Release 3 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey （SDSS）. The sample consists of 3772 quasars with better models of the H/4 and [O Ⅲ] lines and available radio luminosity, including 306 radio-loud quasars, 3466 radio-quiet quasars with measured radio luminosity or upper-limit of radio luminosity （181 radio-quiet quasars with measured radio luminosity）. The virial supermassive black hole mass （MBH） is calculated from the broad Hβline, and the host stellar velocity dispersion （σ＊） is traced by the core [O Ⅲ] gaseous velocity dispersion. The radio luminosity and radio loudness are derived from the FIRST catalog. Our results are as follows： （1） For radio-quiet quasars, we confirm that there is no obvious deviation from the MBH-σ＊ relation defined for inactive galaxies when the uncertainties in ~IBH and the luminosity bias are concerned. （2） We find that the radio-loud quasars deviate more from the MBH-σ＊ relation than do the radio-quiet quasars. This deviation is only partly due to a possible cosmological evolution of the MBH-σ＊ relation and the luminosity bias. （3） The radio luminosity is proportional to MBH1.28＋0.23-0.16（LBol/LEdd） ^1.29＋0.31-0.24 for radio-quiet quasars and to -MBH3.10＋0.60-0.70（LBol/LEdd）^4.18＋1.40-1.10 - for radio-loud quasars. The weaker dependence of the radio luminosity on the mass and the Eddington ratio for radio-loud quasars shows that other physical effects would account for their radio luminosities, such as the spin of the black hole.

Hawking radiation and thermodynamics of a Vaidya-Bonner black hole

Using Parikh＇s tunneling method, the Hawking radiation on the apparent horizon of a Vaidya-Bonner black hole is calculated. When the back-reaction of particles is neglected, the thermal spectrum can be precisely obtained. Then, the black hole thermodynamics can be calculated successfully on the apparent horizon. When a relativistic perturbation is applied to the apparent horizon, a similar calculation can also lead to a purely thermal spectrum. The first law of thermodynamics can also be derived successfully at the new supersurface near the apparent horizon. When the event horizon is thought of as a deviation from the apparent horizon, the expressions of the characteristic position and temperature are consistent with the previous viewpoint which asserts that the thermodynamics should be based on the event horizon. It is concluded that the thermodynamics should be constructed exactly on the apparent horizon while the event horizon thermodynamics is just one of the perturbations near the apparent horizon.

Entropy of Dilatonic Black Hole due to Arbitrary Spin Fields

Using the membrane model based on the brick-wall model, we calculate the free energy and entropy of dilatonic black hole due to arbitrary spin fields. The result shows that the entropy of scalar field and the entropy of Fermionic field have similar formulas. There is only a numerical coefficient between them.

Jet precession in neutrino-cooled disks for gamma-ray bursts:The effects of the mass and spin of a black hole

We present a model of jet precession driven by a neutrino-cooled disk around a spinning black hole to explain the quasi-periodic features observed in some gamma-ray burst light curves. The different orientations of the rotational axes between the outer part of a neutrino-cooled disk and a black hole result in precessions of the central black hole and the inner part of the disk. Hence, the jet arising from the neutrino annihilation above the inner disk is driven to precession. We find that the period of precession is positively correlated with the mass as well as the spin of a black hole.

Has LIGO detected primordial black hole dark matter?——tidal disruption in binary black hole formation

The frequent detection of binary mergers of^30 M⊙black holes(BHs)by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory(LIGO)rekindled researchers’interest in primordial BHs(PBHs)being dark matter(DM).In this work,we investigated PBHs distributed as DM with a monochromatic mass of 30 M⊙and examined the encounter-capture scenario of binary formation,where the densest central region of DM halo dominates.Thus,we paid special attention to the tidal effect by the supermassive black hole(SMBH)present.In doing so,we discovered a necessary tool called loss zone that complements the usage of loss cone.We found that the tidal effect is not prominent in affecting binary formation,which also turned out to be insufficient in explaining the totality of LIGO’s event rate estimation,especially due to a microlensing event constraining the DM fraction in PBH at the mass of interest from near unity to an order smaller.Meanwhile,an early-universe binary formation scenario proves so prevailing that the LIGO signal in turn constrains the PBH fraction below one percent.Thus,people should put more faith in alternative PBH windows and other DM candidates.