| 1. |
- Barack, Leor, et al.
(author)
-
Black holes, gravitational waves and fundamental physics : a roadmap
- 2019
-
In: Classical and quantum gravity. - : IOP Publishing. - 0264-9381 .- 1361-6382. ; 36:14
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The grand challenges of contemporary fundamental physics dark matter, dark energy, vacuum energy, inflation and early universe cosmology, singularities and the hierarchy problem all involve gravity as a key component. And of all gravitational phenomena, black holes stand out in their elegant simplicity, while harbouring some of the most remarkable predictions of General Relativity: event horizons, singularities and ergoregions. The hitherto invisible landscape of the gravitational Universe is being unveiled before our eyes: the historical direct detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration marks the dawn of a new era of scientific exploration. Gravitational-wave astronomy will allow us to test models of black hole formation, growth and evolution, as well as models of gravitational-wave generation and propagation. It will provide evidence for event horizons and ergoregions, test the theory of General Relativity itself, and may reveal the existence of new fundamental fields. The synthesis of these results has the potential to radically reshape our understanding of the cosmos and of the laws of Nature. The purpose of this work is to present a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the relevant fields of research, summarize important open problems, and lay out a roadmap for future progress. This write-up is an initiative taken within the framework of the European Action on 'Black holes, Gravitational waves and Fundamental Physics'.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bonanomi, Francesca, et al.
(author)
-
Another X-ray UFO without a momentum-boosted molecular outflow : ALMA CO(1–0) observations of the galaxy pair IRAS 05054+1718
- 2023
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 673
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) CO(1–0) observations of the nearby infrared luminous (LIRG) galaxy pair IRAS 05054+1718 (also known as CGCG 468-002), as well as a new analysis of X-ray data of this source collected between 2012 and 2021 using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), Swift, and the XMM-Newton satellites. The western component of the pair, NED01, hosts a Seyfert 1.9 nucleus that is responsible for launching a powerful X-ray ultra-fast outflow (UFO). Our X-ray spectral analysis suggests that the UFO could be variable or multi-component in velocity, ranging from v/c ∼ −0.12 (as seen in Swift) to v/c ∼ −0.23 (as seen in NuSTAR), and constrains its momentum flux to be ṗoutX−ray ∼ (4 ± 2) × 1034 g cm s−2. The ALMA CO(1–0) observations, obtained with an angular resolution of 2.2″, although targeting mainly NED01, also include the eastern component of the pair, NED02, a less-studied LIRG with no clear evidence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). We study the CO(1–0) kinematics in the two galaxies using the 3D-BAROLO code. In both sources we can model the bulk of the CO(1–0) emission with rotating disks and, after subtracting the best-fit models, we detect compact residual emission at S/N = 15 within ∼3 kpc of the centre. A molecular outflow in NED01, if present, cannot be brighter than such residuals, implying an upper limit on its outflow rate of Ṁoutmol ≲ 19 ± 14 M⊙ yr−1 and on its momentum rate of ṗoutmol ≲ (2.7 ± 2.4) × 1034 g cm s−1. Combined with the revised energetics of the X-ray wind, we derive an upper limit on the momentum rate ratio of ṗoutmol/ṗoutX−ray < 0.67. We discuss these results in the context of the expectations of AGN feedback models, and we propose that the X-ray disk wind in NED01 has not significantly impacted the molecular gas reservoir (yet), and we can constrain its effect to be much smaller than expectations of AGN ‘energy-driven’ feedback models. We also consider and discuss the hypothesis of asymmetries of the molecular disk not properly captured by the 3D-BAROLO code. Our results highlight the challenges in testing the predictions of popular AGN disk-wind feedback theories, even in the presence of good-quality multi-wavelength observations.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bortolas, Elisa, et al.
(author)
-
Global torques and stochasticity as the drivers of massive black hole pairing in the young Universe
- 2020
-
In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 498:3, s. 3601-3615
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The forthcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will probe the population of coalescing massive black hole (MBH) binaries up to the onset of structure formation. Here, we simulate the galactic-scale pairing of ∼106 M☉ MBHs in a typical, non-clumpy main-sequence galaxy embedded in a cosmological environment at z = 7-6. In order to increase our statistical sample, we adopt a strategy that allows us to follow the evolution of six secondary MBHs concomitantly. We find that the magnitude of the dynamical-friction-induced torques is significantly smaller than that of the large-scale, stochastic gravitational torques arising from the perturbed and morphologically evolving galactic disc, suggesting that the standard dynamical friction treatment is inadequate for realistic galaxies at high redshift. The dynamical evolution of MBHs is very stochastic, and a variation in the initial orbital phase can lead to a drastically different time-scale for the inspiral. Most remarkably, the development of a galactic bar in the host system either significantly accelerates the inspiral by dragging a secondary MBH into the centre, or ultimately hinders the orbital decay by scattering the MBH in the galaxy outskirts. The latter occurs more rarely, suggesting that galactic bars overall promote MBH inspiral and binary coalescence. The orbital decay time can be an order of magnitude shorter than what would be predicted relying on dynamical friction alone. The stochasticity and the important role of global torques have crucial implications for the rates of MBH coalescences in the early Universe: both have to be accounted for when making predictions for the upcoming LISA observatory.
|
|
