Determining the spins of supermassive black holes in Active Galactic Nuclei based on spectropolarimetric observations

Strong constraints are obtained for the spins of supermassive black holes in a number of Active Galactic Nuclei. These estimates are based on spectropolarimetric data, obtained mainly on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory, as well as data on the kinetic power of relativistic jets. The magnetic fields at the innermost stable Keplerian orbit in the accretion disk and at the event horizon of the supermassive black hole are estimated. These data are used to place strong constraints on the spins of supermassive black holes in Active Galactic Nuclei.     

The probability of forming hyperveloicty stars in the Galaxy

The probability of forming a Galactic hypervelocity star is estimated for the scenario of Hills, which describes the dynamical capture of one component of a binary star by the gravitational field of the supermassive black hole in the Galactic center, leading to the ejection of the other component. Ten thousand initial orientations of the binary orbits were considered, and the semi-major axes of the binary orbits were varied in a wide range from 11.3 R _⊙ to 425 R _⊙. Two series of computations were carried out, in which the mass of the supermassive black hole was taken to be 10⁶ M _⊙ and 3.4 × 10⁶ M _⊙. Numerical simulations of encounters of the binary and black hole in the framework of the three-body and N-body problems are used to localize regions favorable for the formation of hypervelocity stars. The motion of the ejected star in the regular field of the Galaxy is calculated, and the conditions under which the star escapes the Galaxy defined. The probability of escaping the Galaxy is caluclated as a function of various parameters the initial separation of the binary components and the distance of the binary from the black hole. On average, the probability of forming a hypervelocity star is higher for closer encounters and more tightly bound binary pairs.

     

Determination of the Spins of Supermassive Black Holes in FR I and FR II Radio Galaxies

The spins of supermassive black holes in FR I and FR II radio galaxies are estimated using two models for the generation of the relativisitic jets, based on the Blandford–Znajek and Blandford–Payne mechanisms: the hybrid model of Meier and a flux-trapping model. The magnetic field at the event horizon is estimated assuming equipartition between the energy densities of the magnetic field and the accreting material. The magnetic field near the inner edge of the accretion disk is estimated assuming equipartition between the magnetic pressure and the radiation pressure, and also assuming proportionality between the magnetic field and the spin. In the case of FR I objects, both mechanisms for the generation of the jets (the hybrid model of Meier and a flux-trapping model) are efficient. For the FR II objects, equipartition between the energy densities of the magnetic field and the accretion flow facilitates stronger retrograde rotation of the supermassive black hole. Plots of spin versus mass suggest a predominantly chaotic character for the accretion in both types of radio galaxies.     

Early formation of galaxies induced by clusters of black holes

A model for the formation of supermassive black holes at the center of a cluster of primordial black holes is developed. It is assumed that ～10^?3 of the mass of the Universe consists of compact clusters of primordial black holes that arose as a result of phase transitions in the early Universe. These clusters also serve as centers for the condensation of dark matter. The formation of protogalaxies with masses of the order of 2 × 10⁸ M _⊙ at redshift z = 15 containing clusters of black holes is investigated. The nuclei of these protogalaxies contain central black holes with masses ～10⁵ M _⊙, and the protogalaxies themselves resemble dwarf spherical galaxies with their maximum density at their centers. Subsequent merging of these induced protogalaxies with ordinary halos of dark matter leads to the standard picture for the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe. The merging of the primordial black holes leads to the formation of supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei and produces the observed correlation between the mass of the central black hole and the bulge velocity dispersion.     

Spectral distribution of the polarized radiation from standard accretion disks in Active Galactic Nuclei: Observational analysis

Spectropolarimetric observations of a number of Active Galactic Nuclei obtained using the SCORPIO-2 aperture focal reducer installed on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences are used to estimate physical parameters of these objects. The measured polarization and its wavelength dependence are consistent with the expectations of a standard accretion-disk model taking into account the effect of Faraday depolarization over the mean free path of the emitted photons. Estimates of the magnetic field in the accretion disk near the innermost stable orbit and the spin of the accreting central black hole are obtained. It is concluded that supermassive black holes with standard accretion disks and equal magnetic and radiative pressures are primarily Kerr black holes.     

Statistics of Stars with Relativistic Velocities

The scenario for the dynamical capture of a binary system in the neighborhood of a supermassive black hole used byHills in 1988 to predict the existence of hypervelocity stars (~1000 km/s) allows the existence of stars with relativistic velocities attaining (1/3?2/3)c, where c is the speed of light. The increase of the kinetic energy of these stars by more than a factor of 100 is due to the replacement of one component of the binary with a supermassive black hole. This scenario takes candidate of relativisti©velocity stars outside our Galaxy, into intergalactic space, where they could be ejected from merging galaxies populated by supermassive black holes. At present, this is a hypothetical class of stars with anomalous kinematics, but it is already posing a serious challenge for modern astrometry, which, like 300 years ago, is still concerned with the detection of proper motions. While this was related to stars in the solar neighborhood at the time of Halley, is now a problem for studies of the most remote and weakest stars in intergalactic space. Possibilities for detecting such stars must be based on estimates of their abundances, that is, on their statistics. This paper is based on a presentation made at the conference “Modern Astrometry 2017,” dedicated to the memory of K.V. Kuimov (Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University, October 23–25, 2017).

     

The dynamical evolution of galaxy clusters taking into account the deceleration of disk galaxies by the gaseous component of the cluster

Numerical simulations of the dynamical evolution of a galaxy cluster in the framework of the N-body problem taking into account dark matter are presented. These simulations are aimed at studying the role of intergalactic gas in the cluster (the ICM) in the formation of a central, supermassive cD galaxy. The numerical models indicate that deceleration of the galaxies by intergalactic gas supports the observed high temperature of this gas, and accelerates the formation of a supermassive cD galaxy in the cluster core. The accretion of interstellar gas by the cluster core can support a high accretion rate by the central, supermassive black hole associated with the nucleus of the cD galaxy. As a result, this nucleus harbors a bright quasar. The mass of the black hole can grow with time to values 10¹⁰ M _⊙, as are observed for the brightest quasars.     

An unusually prolonged outburst in the blazar 3C 454.3

Data from long-term multi-frequency monitoring of the Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) and blazar 3C 454.3 are analyzed. An unusually prolonged outburst in 2013–2017 had a duration that was twice the possible orbital period of the companion of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) located at the center of the host galaxy. It is proposed that the shape and duration of this outburst in 3C 454.3 could be the result of a coincidence between the plane of the accretion disk (AD) and the orbital plane of the companion. As a consequence, a prolonged energy release with enhanced intensity can be observed as the companion passes through the dense medium of the AD of the central SMBH. The presence of a 1.55-year orbital period in the variations of the emission of 3C 454.3 during this outburst also supports this hypothesis, as opposed to the possibility that the outburst was due to variations in γ and the Doppler factor. Small-scale flux-density fluctuations can arise during the outburst due to matter inhomogeneities with characteristic scales of about 1015 cm or more in the AD of the central SMBH and surrounding areas.     

Polarization effects in the radiation of magnetized envelopes and extended accretion structures

We have calculated the degree and position angle of the polarization of radiation scattered in a magnetized, optically thin or optically thick envelope around a central source, taking into account Faraday rotation of the plane of polarization during the propagation of the scattered radiation and the finite size of the radiation source. The wavelength dependence of the degree of polarization can be used to estimate the magnetic field of the source (a star, the region around a neutron star, or a black hole), and we have used our calculations to estimate the magnetic fields in a number of individual objects: several hot O and Wolf-Rayet stars, compact objects in X-ray close binaries with black holes (SS 433, Cyg X-1), and supernovae. The spectrum of the linear polarization can be used to determine the magnetic field in the vicinity of a central supermassive black hole, where the polarized optical radiation is generated. In a real physical model, this value can be extrapolated to the region of the last stable orbit. In the future, the proposed technique will make it possible to directly estimate the magnetic field in the region of the last stable orbit of a supermassive black hole using X-ray polarimetry.     

Dependence of the spins of supermassive black holes in quasars on their cosmological redshifts

Data on the dependences of the masses and bolometric luminosities of Active Galactic Nuclei on their cosmological redshifts are used to determine the redshift dependences of their X-ray luminosities and the kinetic powers of their relativistic jets. These results are used, in turn, to obtain the redshift dependence of the spins of the central supermassive black holes.     

Stars with relativistic speeds in the Hills scenario

The dynamical capture of a binary system consisting of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) and an ordinary star in the gravitational field of a central (more massive) SMBH is considered in the three-body problem in the framework of a modified Hills scenario. The results of numerical simulations predict the existence of objects whose spatial speeds are comparable to the speed of light. The conditions for and constraints imposed on the ejection speeds realized in a classical scenario and the modified Hills scenario are analyzed. The star is modeled using an N-body approach, making it possible to treat it as a structured object, enabling estimation of the probability that the object survives when it is ejected with relativistic speed as a function of the mass of the star, the masses of both SMBHs, and the pericenter distance. It is possible that the modern kinematic classification for stars with anomalously high spatial velocities will be augmented with a new class—stars with relativistic speeds.     

A prolonged flare in the blazar 3C 454.3

We present an analysis of data from multi-frequency monitoring of the blazar 3C 454.3 in 2010–2012, when the source experienced an unusually prolonged flare with a duration of about two years. This corresponds to the orbital period of the companion in a scenario in which two supermassive black holes are present in the nucleus of 3C 454.3. The flare’s shape, duration, and amplitude can be explained as a result of precession, if the plane of the accretion disk and the orbital plane of the binary are coincident. We detected small-scale structure of the flare, on time scales of no more than a month. These features probably correspond to inhomogeneities in the accretion disk and surrounding regions, with sizes of the order of 10¹⁵ cm. We estimated the size of the accretion disk based on the dynamical and geometrical parameters of this binary system: its diameter is comparable to the size of the orbit of the supermassive binary black hole, and its thickness does not exceed the gravitational radius of the central black hole. The presence of characteristic small-scale features during the flare makes it possible to estimate the relative time delays of variations in different spectral ranges: from gamma-ray to millimeter wavelengths.     

The estimation of black-hole masses in distant radio galaxies

We have estimated the masses of the central supermassive black holes of 2442 radio galaxies froma catalog compiled using data from the NED, SDSS, and CATS databases. Mass estimates based on optical photometry and radio data are compared. Relationships between the mass of the central black hole M _p ^bh and the redshift z _p are constructed for both wavelength ranges. The distribution of the galaxies in these diagrams and systematic effects influencing estimation of the black-hole parameters are discussed. Upperenvelope cubic regression fits are obtained using the maximum estimates of the black-hole masses. The optical and radio upper envelopes show similar behavior, and have very similar peaks in position, z _p ≅ 1.9, and amplitude, log M _p/bh = 9.4. This is consistent with a model in which the growth of the supermassive black holes is self-regulating, with this redshift corresponding to the epoch when the accretion-flow phase begins to end and the nuclear activity falls off.     

An estimate of the probability of capture of a binary star by a supermassive black hole

A simple model for the dynamics of stars located in a sphere with a radius of one-tenth of the central parsec, designed to enable estimation of the probability of capture in the close vicinity (r < 10^?3 pc) of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) is presented. In the case of binary stars, such a capture with a high probability results in the formation of a hyper-velocity star. The population of stars in a sphere of radius <0.1 pc is calculated based on data for the Galactic rotation curve. To simulate the distortion of initially circular orbits of stars, these are subjected to a series of random shock encounters (“kicks”), whose net effect is to “push” these binary systems into the region of potential formation of hyper-velocity stars. The mean crossing time of the border of the close vicinity of the SMBH (r < 10^?3 pc) by the stellar orbit can be used to estimate the probability that a binary system is captured, followed by the possible ejection of a hyper-velocity star.     

Early formation of (super)massive black holes and gravitational waves from their coalescence

Astronomical observations of last few years have presented a surprising evidence that the Universe at redshift of order 10 is densely populated by supermassive black holes (quasars), supernovae, and contains very large amount of dust. All these data are in conflict with the canonical theory of quasar and supernova formation. A model is discussed which in a simple and natural way solves all these problem. In addition it explains an existence of supermassive black holes in each large galaxy and even in small ones. An inverted picture of galaxy formation is suggested when primordial black holes serve as seeds of galaxy formation. Simultaneously the origin and properties of black hole binaries, sources of gravitational waves registered by LIGO are explained. As a by-product the model may lead to abundant cosmological antimatter even in the Galaxy.     

The nature hypervelocity stars

We list and analyze the main currently known mechanisms for accelerating the space motions of stars. A high space velocity of a star can be a consequence of its formation in the early stages of the evolution of a massive galaxy, when it was spheroidal and non-stationary, so that stars were born with velocities close to the escape velocity for the galaxy. Another possibility is that the star arrived from another galaxy with a velocity that is high for our Galaxy. The decay of unstable close multiple stars or supernova explosions in close binaries can also provide velocities of up to several hundreds of km/s to main-sequence stars and velocities of up to ∼1000 km/s to degenerate stars, neutron stars, and stellar-mass black holes. The merger of components of a binary system containing two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole due to gravitational-wave radiation can accelerate the nascent black hole to a velocity∼1000 km/s. Hypervelocity relativistic stars can be born due to asymmetric neutrino ejection during a supernova explosion. Stars can be efficiently accelerated by single and binary supermassive black holes (with masses from several millions to several billions of solar masses) in the nuclei of galaxies. Thanks to their gravitational field and fast orbital motion (in the case of binary objects), supermassive black holes are able to accelerate even main-sequence stars to relativistic velocities.     

Long-term,multi-frequency monitoring of the blazar S0528+134 (Nimfa)

Flux-density variations of the quasar S0528+134 (Nimfa) are analyzed based on long-term monitoring at five radio frequencies between 4.8 and 37 GHz, performed at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, the Metsähovi Radio Observatory of Aalto University, and the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory. The dynamics of a powerful flare in 1996 are analyzed using gamma-ray (0.1–300 GeV), X-ray (2–10 keV, 15–50 keV), and radio observations. The delays of the flare between different spectral ranges and between different radio wavelengths have been measured. The dependence for the delays at different radio wavelengths relative to the X-ray and optical flares is established based on long-term observations in the X-ray, optical, and radio obtained from 2004 to 2013. Multi-frequency monitoring in the radio is used to estimate the orbital and precession periods in the binary supermassive black hole system S0528+134 and the physical characteristics of this system.     

Supermassive black holes in interacting galaxies

The possible influence of galactic interaction on the formation and growth of supermassive black holes in their nuclei and the dynamics of their circumnuclear regions are considered, based on new data from the updated Vorontsov-Velyaminov catalog of interacting galaxies and modern estimates of the masses of supermassive black holes. A sample of interacting galaxies with known black-hole masses is created, and the dependence of the masses of the central black holes on the absolute B magnitudes and central stellar velocity dispersions in the host galaxy derived for this sample. A statistical analysis of the sample shows that the black-hole masses in interacting galaxies satisfy the same mass-velocity dispersion relation as non-interacting galaxies. A higher mass dispersion is characteristic of merging pairs than for galaxies that interact in other ways. The maximum masses of the central black holes are observed in radio galaxies.     

Kinematics of disk galaxies with known masses of their supermassive black holes. Observations

This is the first paper in a project aimed at analyzing relations between the masses of supermassive black holes or nuclear clusters in galaxies and the kinematic features of the host galaxies. We present long-slit spectroscopic observations of galaxies obtained on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory using the SCORPIO focal reducer. Radial profiles of the line-of-sight velocities and velocity dispersions of the stellar populations were obtained for seven galaxies with known masses of their supermassive black holes (Mkn 79, Mkn 279, NGC 2787, NGC 3245, NGC 3516, NGC 7457, and NGC 7469), and also for one galaxy with a nuclear cluster (NGC 428). Velocity profiles of the emitting gas were obtained for some of these galaxies as well. We present preliminary galactic rotation curves derived from these data.     

Correlations between the development of a flare in the Blazar 3C 454.3 in the radio and optical

Radio and optical data are used to analyze the development of the flare in the blazar 3C 454.3 observed in 2004–2007. A detailed correspondance between the optical and radio flares is established, with a time delay that depends on the observing frequency. The variation of the delay of the radio flare relative to the optical flare is opposite to the dispersion delay expected for the propagation of radiation in the interstellar medium, testifying to an intrinsic origin for the observed outburst. Small-scale flux variations on time intervals of 5–10 days in the millimeter and optical are also correlated, with a time delay of about ten months. This may provide evidence for a single source generating the radiation at all wavelengths. Rapid flux fluctuations in the radio and optical that are correlated with the indicated time delays could be associated with inhomogeneities in the accretion disk. Detailed studies of the flux variations of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) can be used to analyze the structure of the accretion disk. A model for the energy release in AGN that is not associated purely with accretion onto supermassive black holes is proposed. As is the case for other active members of the AGN family, estimates of the lifetime of the binary black-hole system in 3C 454.3 suggest that this object is in a stage of its evolution that is fairly close to the coalescence of its black holes. The energy that is released as the companion of the central black hole loses orbital angular momentum is sufficient to explain the observed AGN phenomena. The source of primary energy release could be heating of the gas behind shock fronts that arise due to the friction between the companion black hole and the ambient gaseous medium. The orbit of the companion could be located at the periphery of the accretion disk of the central body at its apocenter and plunge more deeply into the accretion disk at its pericenter, inducing flares at all wavelengths. Energy-release parameters such as the temperature and density of the heated gas are estimated for 3C 454.3. The model considered assumes omnidirectional radiation of the medium in the presence of a magnetic field. The radiation corresponding to the minimum flux level (base level) could represent omnidirectional radiation due to the orbit of the moving companion. The fraction of the energy that is transferred to directed jets is small, comprising 1–2% of the total energy released due to the loss of orbital angular momentum by the companion.