恒星级双黑洞自旋研究进展

自2015年以来,人们已经探测到93例恒星级双黑洞并合引力波事件,测量了双黑洞质量、自旋和距离等参数,并获得了其统计分布。不同双黑洞起源机制产生的双黑洞性质分布,特别是自旋分布,会显著不同,其可用来限制双黑洞起源。简单回顾了双星演化和动力学相互作用等双黑洞形成机制及自旋来源;综述了利用自旋限制双黑洞起源的一般方法和常见模型,以及利用LIGO/Virgo引力波数据取得的相关进展,并对未来发展前景进行了展望。     

相对论自旋动力学系统的数值研究

<正>自旋致密双星是宇宙中的重要研究对象.其中,由恒星级致密天体绕转超大质量黑洞构成的极端质量比旋进系统(EMRIs)是美国宇航局LISA引力波探测计划的首选目标源之一,对其研究和观测不仅可以直接检验广义相对论的引力波预言,测量中央黑洞的质量和自旋,还可以揭示黑洞视界附近的基本物理性质,具有重要的物理和天体物理意义.     

稳定物质转移通道形成双黑洞

由于缺乏足够的观测数据,大质量恒星的研究进展缓慢,到目前为止大质量恒星演化和黑洞详细的形成过程还存在较大争议。LIGO首次探测到恒星级双黑洞并合产生的引力波信号,这不但验证了爱因斯坦20世纪的预言,而且还证实了大质量双黑洞的存在。研究工作采用恒星演化程序MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics)计算孤立双星的演化,主星初始质量为20 M⊙～80 M⊙,金属丰度为0.000 1～0.002,初始双星质量比为0.7～0.9。双星系统通过稳定物质转移通道,形成总质量(15～110) M⊙范围内的双黑洞。形成双黑洞的并合时标强烈依赖于初始轨道周期,只有初始轨道周期不大于5 d的双星系统演化形成的双黑洞,通过引力波辐射损失角动量,最终可能在哈勃时标内并合。研究工作得到的结果可以解释部分现阶段已经探测到的引力波事件。     

双星系统中大质量比致密天体质量四极矩对轨道频率的影响分析

极端质量比旋进系统是空间引力波探测器最重要的波源之一。对引力波的探测需要高精度波形模版。当前主流的极端质量比旋进系统引力波计算模型中,人们一般将小质量天体当作试验粒子进行计算,而忽略了其结构及自身引力对背景引力场的影响。利用Mathisson-Papapetrou-Dixon方程研究延展体在弯曲时空中的运动,以及小天体自旋和质量多极矩对引力波信号识别产生的影响。结果表明,质量比在10?6-10?4范围的旋进系统,其自旋达到很大时,自旋对延展体的轨道运动有不可忽略的影响;在质量比10?4-10?2区间内,需要考虑中心黑洞潮汐作用导致的白矮星形变;在质量比大于10?4,且白矮星自旋很大时,其自旋产生的形变会对小天体轨道运动产生不可忽略的影响。大质量黑洞潮汐作用导致的恒星级黑洞或中子星产生的形变可以忽略,中子星和黑洞的自旋会对轨道运动产生不可忽略的影响,而自旋产生的四极矩对轨道运动不产生影响。     

引力波与引力波源

引力波爆发事件GW150914的发现,标志着引力波天文学时代的到来,它为人类打开了全新的窗口来研究强引力场、极致密天体、极高能过程、极早期宇宙等极端物理过程和现象。介绍广义相对论中引力波的基本性质、观测效应以及主要的产生机制。并着重介绍宇宙中的几类比较重要的引力波源的主要性质、探测方法,以及探测现状和未来展望。具体包括:旋转的中子星、稳定的双星系统等连续的引力波源,超新星爆发、双星并合等爆发式的引力波源,以及天体物理过程和宇宙暴胀产生的随机引力波背景。     

双黑洞并合与黑洞逆向吸积

黑洞是广义相对论理论预言的天体,也是很多天文现象,如类星体、活动星系核、喷流、吸积盘的中心引擎。根据广义相对论,宇宙中的黑洞可以由质量和自旋两个参数来描述。对比黑洞质量的测定,自旋的测量较为困难。但自旋的方向与很多天文现象密切相关。如果黑洞自旋方向与吸积盘的转动方向一致,将形成正向吸积的天文现象;反之,如果黑洞自旋的与吸积盘的转动方向相反,将形成逆向吸积的天文现象。利用宽线区尺度与光学光度之间的关系,最近的研究发现了逆向吸积盘的可能候选体。利用双黑洞并合的物理图像提出了一种逆向吸积盘的物理形成机制,并定量计算了相关的逆向吸积盘形成率。发现了超大质量双黑洞系统的质量比分布与类星体逆向吸积盘的形成率之间存在定量关系,该定量关系可以通过未来的空间引力波探测以及逆向吸积盘的探测进行检验。     

空间激光干涉引力波探测与早期宇宙结构形成

空间引力波探测是研究宇宙早期恒星演化和星系形成、黑洞和星系的共同成长等天文学和宇宙学重大问题的一条重要可能途径。经过两期科学院先导科技专项空间科学预研究课题的开展,通过权衡技术的可行性与科学的前瞻性,选择以高红移开始的中至大质量双黑洞并合系统、星团等稠密动力学环境中涉及中等质量黑洞的双黑洞引力波波源为主要科学目标,给出了我国毫赫兹至赫兹频段空间引力波探测任务计划的初步设计。以该任务设计建议为依据,简要介绍空间引力波探测及其作为一种新的天文观测手段的科学内涵,以及我国空间引力波探测任务设计的科学目标和探测潜力。     

自旋致密双星后牛顿哈密顿系统轨道动力学数值研究

由中子星或黑洞构成的旋转致密双星后牛顿哈密顿系统属于相对论二体问题,该系统不但含有丰富的共振和混沌等动力学现象,而且成为探测引力波的理想天然波源.引力体的轨道动力学性质会在引力波中得到反映.因此,实际天体的混沌性既可能是对引力波探测的挑战,又可望是获得观测效应的机遇.本学位论文正是在这样的国际学术氛围下数值研究旋转致密双星后牛顿保守哈密顿动力学问题.基于最小二乘法原理我们构造了单和双标度因子等几种流形改正方法,分别对旋转致密双星后牛     

稳定物质转移通道形成的极小质量白矮星

极小质量白矮星双星对于双星演化、公共包层、AM CVn双星、星震学研究都十分重要。考虑到它们的周期比较短,它们还是重要的引力波源,然而它们的形成和演化仍然不清楚。通过利用最新的一种磁滞模型,建立了极小质量白矮星双星的形成和演化模型。研究给出它们形成的初始参数空间,并发现通过稳定物质转移形成的极小质量白矮星的质量范围为(0.11～0.21) M_⊙。此外,研究发现部分极小质量白矮星双星能在宇宙年龄内演化成为AM CVn双星,这些极小质量白矮星的质量范围为0.14～0.16 M_⊙。研究还发现它们的引力波信号能被LISA、天琴、太极探测器探测到。最后还讨论了不同的物质积累效率对于同一双星系统演化结果的影响,发现它除了明显影响主星最终质量外,对于伴星和双星演化过程并无太大影响。     

时空的圆舞曲引力波

2015年9月14日,美国激光干涉引力波天文台(LIGO)捕捉到了距离地球13亿光年外的一对双黑洞并合产生的引力波信号(GW150914)。经过长达数月的数据分析,LIGO团队确证了激光干涉仪在该引力波信号穿过时产生的大约是一亿亿分之一厘米尺度的振荡变化,并于2016年2月11日对外公布了这项惊人发现。这是人类首次直接探测到爱因斯坦广义相对论预言的引力波信号,并证实了双黑洞的存在。引力波探测器为探测宇宙提供了不同于电磁波(光)的全新方法,现在我们不仅能用望远镜“看”缤纷多彩的宇宙,还能用引力波探测器“听”波澜壮阔的宇宙。2017年的诺贝尔物理学奖也因此颁给了对引力波探测作出杰出贡献的三位物理学家:雷纳·韦斯(Rainer Weiss)、基普·索恩(Kip Stephen Thorne)和巴里·巴里什(Barry Clark Barish)。     

Evolution of massive binary black holes

Since many or most galaxies have central massive black holes (BHs), mergers of galaxies can form massive binary black holes (BBHs). In this paper we study the evolution of massive BBHs in realistic galaxy models, using a generalization of techniques used to study tidal disruption rates around massive BHs. The evolution of BBHs depends on BH mass ratio and host galaxy type. BBHs with very low mass ratios (say, ≲0.001) are hardly ever formed by mergers of galaxies, because the dynamical friction time-scale is too long for the smaller BH to sink into the galactic centre within a Hubble time. BBHs with moderate mass ratios are most likely to form and survive in spherical or nearly spherical galaxies and in high-luminosity or high-dispersion galaxies; they are most likely to have merged in low-dispersion galaxies (line-of-sight velocity dispersion ≲90 km s⁻¹) or in highly flattened or triaxial galaxies.
The semimajor axes and orbital periods of surviving BBHs are generally in the range  10^-3–10 pc  and  10–10⁵ yr;  they are also larger in high-dispersion galaxies than in low-dispersion galaxies, larger in nearly spherical galaxies than in highly flattened or triaxial galaxies, and larger for BBHs with equal masses than for BBHs with unequal masses. The orbital velocities of surviving BBHs are generally in the range  10²–10⁴ km s^-1  . The methods of detecting surviving BBHs are also discussed.
If no evidence of BBHs is found in AGNs, this may be either because gas plays a major role in BBH orbital decay or because nuclear activity switches on soon after a galaxy merger, and ends before the smaller BH has had time to spiral to the centre of the galaxy.     

GRS 1915+105的X射线能谱分析及黑洞自旋测量

GRS 1915+105是银河系内的低质量黑洞X射线双星,其能谱和黑洞自旋已经得到了广泛的研究.自2018年6月开始,其X射线流量下降到了低流量水平,其间偶尔会产生多波段的耀发.利用Insight-HXMT(Insight-Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope,简称为慧眼)卫星在2020年8月30日到2020年10月13日之间对GRS1915+105的观测数据,研究了其能谱特性,发现在此次爆发过程中, X射线能谱可以用一个康普顿化的多温黑体谱很好地拟合.整个爆发的硬度强度图(Hardness-Intensity Diagram, HID)一直处于软态.采用GRS1915+105的最新动力学参数M=12.4_-1.8^+2.0M⊙, i=60°±5°, D=8.6_-1.6^+2.0kpc (M、M⊙、i和D分别表示黑洞质量、太阳质量、盘倾角和距离),得到其无量纲黑洞自旋a*的一个下限a*> 0.9990,确认了GRS 1915+105是一个具有极端自旋的黑洞.考虑本地吸收体的...     

恒星级黑洞的观测证认研究进展

具有不同质量的恒星在耗尽其热核能源后,最终可能会坍缩成为性质完全不同的致密天体,如白矮星、中子星或者黑洞。从20世纪30年代起,黑洞的观测及其证认一直是天体物理学的研究热点之一。首先简要地回顾了恒星级黑洞的形成及其候选天体的研究历史;然后介绍了如何从观测上证认恒星级黑洞:接着详细讨论了恒星级黑洞的质量和自转参数的测量方法;最后介绍恒星级黑洞观测及其证认的最新研究进展,并做出结论:目前已经有充分的证据宣告在部分吸积X射线双星中存在恒星级黑洞。     

Untangling the merger history of massive black holes with LISA

Binary black hole coalescences emit gravitational waves that will be measurable by the space-based detector LISA to large redshifts. This suggests that LISA may be able to observe black holes grow and evolve as the Universe evolves, mapping the distribution of black hole masses as a function of redshift. An immediate difficulty with this idea is that LISA measures certain redshifted combinations of masses with good accuracy: if a system has some mass parameter m , then LISA measures  (1+ z ) m   . This mass–redshift degeneracy makes it difficult to follow the mass evolution. In many cases, LISA will also measure the luminosity distance D of a coalescence accurately. Since cosmological parameters (particularly the mean density, the cosmological constant and the Hubble constant) are now known with moderate precision, we can obtain z from D and break the degeneracy. This makes it possible to untangle the mass and redshift and to study the mass and merger history of black holes. Mapping the black hole mass distribution could open a window on to an early epoch of structure formation.     

Gravitational waves from scattering of stellar-mass black holes in galactic nuclei

Stellar-mass black holes (BHs) are expected to segregate and form a steep density cusp around supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in galactic nuclei. We follow the evolution of a multimass system of BHs and stars by numerically integrating the Fokker–Planck energy diffusion equations for a variety of BH mass distributions. We find that the BHs 'self-segregate', and that the rarest, most massive BHs dominate the scattering rate closest to the SMBH  (≲10⁻¹ pc)  . BH–BH binaries form out of gravitational wave emission during BH encounters. We find that the expected rate of BH coalescence events detectable by Advanced LIGO is  ∼1–10² yr⁻¹  , depending on the initial mass function of stars in galactic nuclei and the mass of the most massive BHs. We find that the actual merger rate is likely ∼10 times larger than this due to the intrinsic scatter of stellar densities in many different galaxies. The BH binaries that form this way in galactic nuclei have significant eccentricities as they enter the LIGO band (90 per cent with   e > 0.9  ), and are therefore distinguishable from other binaries, which circularize before becoming detectable. We also show that eccentric mergers can be detected to larger distances and greater BH masses than circular mergers, up to  ∼700 M_⊙  . Future ground-based gravitational wave observatories will be able to constrain both the mass function of BHs and stars in galactic nuclei.     

On the evolution of the black hole: spheroid mass ratio

We present the results of a study which uses the 3C RR sample of radio-loud active galactic nuclei to investigate the evolution of the black hole:spheroid mass ratio in the most massive early-type galaxies from  0 < z < 2  . Radio-loud unification is exploited to obtain virial (linewidth) black hole mass estimates from the 3C RR quasars, and stellar mass estimates from the 3C RR radio galaxies, thereby providing black hole and stellar mass estimates for a single population of early-type galaxies. At low redshift  ( z ≲ 1)  , the 3C RR sample is consistent with a black hole:spheroid mass ratio of   M _bh/ M _sph≃ 0.002  , in good agreement with that observed locally for quiescent galaxies of similar stellar mass  ( M _sph≃ 5 × 10¹¹ M_⊙)  . However, over the redshift interval  0 < z < 2  the 3C RR black hole:spheroid mass ratio is found to evolve as   M _bh/ M _sph∝ (1 + z )^2.07±0.76  , reaching   M _bh/ M _sph≃ 0.008  by redshift   z ≃ 2  . This evolution is found to be inconsistent with the local black hole:spheroid mass ratio remaining constant at a moderately significant level (98 per cent). If confirmed, the detection of evolution in the 3C RR black hole:spheroid mass ratio further strengthens the evidence that, at least for massive early-type galaxies, the growth of the central supermassive black hole may be completed before that of the host spheroid.     

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.     

The distribution of supermassive black holes in the nuclei of nearby galaxies

The growth of supermassive black holes by merging and accretion in hierarchical models of galaxy formation is studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations. A tight linear relation between masses of black holes and masses of bulges arises if the mass accreted by supermassive black holes scales linearly with the mass-forming stars and if the redshift evolution of mass accretion tracks closely that of star formation. Differences in redshift evolution between black hole accretion and star formation introduce a considerable scatter in this relation. A non-linear relation between black hole accretion and star formation results in a non-linear relation between masses of remnant black holes and masses of bulges. The relation of black hole mass to bulge luminosity observed in nearby galaxies and its scatter are reproduced reasonably well by models in which black hole accretion and star formation are linearly related but do not track each other in redshift. This suggests that a common mechanism determines the efficiency for black hole accretion and the efficiency for star formation, especially for bright bulges.     

A Study of the Black Hole Mass and Accretion Rate Distributions of AGNs

The redshift, central black hole mass and accretion rate are important parameters when studying the AGN evolution. The central black hole masses for 172 quasars and Seyfert galaxies are calculated in this paper using the reverberation mapping method. The distributions of central black hole masses, redshifts and the Eddington accretion rates are analyzed, to verify the transition from the quasar to the Seyfert galaxy in the course of evolution.     

The evolution of massive black hole seeds

We investigate the evolution of high-redshift seed black hole masses at late times and their observational signatures. The massive black hole seeds studied here form at extremely high redshifts from the direct collapse of pre-galactic gas discs. Populating dark matter haloes with seeds formed in this way, we follow the mass assembly of these black holes to the present time using a Monte Carlo merger tree. Using this machinery, we predict the black hole mass function at high redshifts and at the present time, the integrated mass density of black holes and the luminosity function of accreting black holes as a function of redshift. These predictions are made for a set of three seed models with varying black hole formation efficiency. Given the accuracy of present observational constraints, all three models can be adequately fitted. Discrimination between the models appears predominantly at the low-mass end of the present-day black hole mass function which is not observationally well constrained. However, all our models predict that low surface brightness, bulgeless galaxies with large discs are least likely to be sites for the formation of massive seed black holes at high redshifts. The efficiency of seed formation at high redshifts has a direct influence on the black hole occupation fraction in galaxies at   z = 0  . This effect is more pronounced for low-mass galaxies. This is the key discriminant between the models studied here and the Population III remnant seed model. We find that there exist a population of low-mass galaxies that do not host nuclear black holes. Our prediction of the shape of the M _BH–σ relation at the low-mass end is in agreement with the recent observational determination from the census of low-mass galaxies in the Virgo cluster.