Black hole mergers: can gas discs solve the 'final parsec' problem?

We compute the effect of an orbiting gas disc in promoting the coalescence of a central supermassive black hole binary. Unlike earlier studies, we consider a finite mass of gas with explicit time dependence: we do not assume that the gas necessarily adopts a steady state or a spatially constant accretion rate, i.e. that the merging black hole was somehow inserted into a pre-existing accretion disc. We consider the tidal torque of the binary on the disc, and the binary's gravitational radiation. We study the effects of star formation in the gas disc in a simple energy feedback framework.
The disc spectrum differs in detail from that found before. In particular, tidal torques from the secondary black hole heat the edges of the gap, creating bright rims around the secondary. These rims do not in practice have uniform brightness either in azimuth or time, but can on average account for as much as 50 per cent of the integrated light from the disc. This may lead to detectable high-photon-energy variability on the relatively long orbital time-scale of the secondary black hole, and thus offer a prospective signature of a coalescing black hole binary.
We also find that the disc can drive the binary to merger on a reasonable time-scale only if its mass is at least comparable with that of the secondary black hole, and if the initial binary separation is relatively small, i.e.   a ₀≲ 0.05  pc. Star formation complicates the merger further by removing mass from the disc. In the feedback model we consider, this sets an effective limit to the disc mass. As a result, binary merging is unlikely unless the black hole mass ratio is ≲0.001. Gas discs thus appear not to be an effective solution to the 'last parsec' problem for a significant class of mergers.     

Magnetic connection and current distribution in black hole accretion discs

We discuss one of the possible origins of large-scale magnetic fields based on a continuous distribution of toroidal electric current flowing in the inner region of the disc around a Kerr black hole (BH) in the framework of general relativity. It turns out that four types of configuration of the magnetic connection (MC) are generated, i.e. MC of the BH with the remote astrophysical load (MCHL), MC of the BH with the disc (MCHD), MC of the plunging region with the disc (MCPD) and MC of the inner and outer disc regions (MCDD). It turns out that the Blandford–Znajek process can be regarded as one type of MC, i.e. MCHL. In addition, we propose a scenario for fitting the quasi-periodic oscillations in BH binaries based on MCDD associated with the magnetic reconnection.     

Constraining jet/disc geometry and radiative processes in stellar black holes XTE J1118+480 and GX 339−4

We present results from modelling of quasi-simultaneous broad-band (radio through X-ray) observations of the Galactic stellar black hole (BH) transient X-ray binary (XRB) systems XTE J1118+480 and GX 339−4 using an irradiated disc + compact jet model. In addition to quantifying the physical properties of the jet, we have developed a new irradiated disc model which also constrains the geometry and temperature of the outer accretion disc by assuming a disc heated by viscous energy release and X-ray irradiation from the inner regions. For the source XTE J1118+480, which has better spectral coverage of the two in optical and near-infrared (OIR) wavelengths, we show that the entire broad-band continuum can be well described by an outflow-dominated model + an irradiated disc. The best-fitting radius of the outer edge of the disc is consistent with the Roche lobe geometry of the system, and the temperature of the outer edge of the accretion disc is similar to those found for other XRBs. Irradiation of the disc by the jet is found to be negligible for this source. For GX 339−4, the entire continuum is well described by the jet-dominated model only, with no disc component required. For the two XRBs, which have very different physical and orbital parameters and were in different accretion states during the observations, the sizes of the jet base are similar and both seem to prefer a high fraction of non-thermal electrons in the acceleration/shock region and a magnetically dominated plasma in the jet. These results, along with recent similar results from modelling other galactic XRBs and AGNs, may suggest an inherent unity in diversity in the geometric and radiative properties of compact jets from accreting black holes.     

EGUP与黑洞熵的修正值

目前,人们对黑洞Bekenstein-Hawking熵的量子修正值产生了极大的兴趣,尤其是黑洞熵对数修正项的系数.在广义不确定关系(GUP)的基础上,通过引入了推广的广义不确定关系(EGUP),运用面积定理计算了3类时空的黑洞熵的修正值,得到的黑洞熵的修正项的系数是正的.这种计算方法不仅对单视界时空适用,而且对有内视界的黑洞时空依然成立,并且在EGUP基础上计算出黑洞熵的修正值.相比GUP基础上得到的黑洞熵,EGUP可以应用于大尺度时空下,所以应用范围更广.此计算方法简洁明了,物理意义明确,可为黑洞熵对数修正值系数的确定提供参考.     

The additional radiation of Cyg X-1 at primary minimum

New UBV-photoelectric observations of the well-known massive X-ray binary system Cyg X-1/V 1357 Cyg are obtained near the primary minimum. The detailed analysis of these observations confirms the existence of additional blue radiation which appears as a narrow peak with an amplitude of 0.01–0.02 mag near phase 0.00 on the light curve (the superior conjunction of the relativistic component), firstly detected by Lyuty (1985). This emission does not appear at every orbital cycle. The appearance of this narrow peak of additional blue radiation on the light curve of Cyg X-1 can be explained as the radiation of relativistic electrons in the disturbed magnetic field of the optical star in frames of the model proposed by Ikhsanov and Fabrika (1990).     

活动星系核与类星体中致密天体的形成与并合：伽玛爆发与引力辐射

频繁的超新星爆发可用以解释活动星系核与类星体的超高金属丰度。星团中的恒星与吸积盘相互作用导致致密天体中子星和黑洞的形成率很高,这些致密天体与红巨星很容易形成双星系统,而后形成（ＮＳ／ＢＨ,ＮＳ／ＢＨ） 双星由于引力辐射最终导致并合而形成伽玛射线爆发。我们估计了伽玛射线爆的爆发频率,发现与观测相符。     

Plenty of nothing: Black hole entropy in induced gravity

We demonstrate how Sakharov's idea of induced gravity allows one to explain the statistical-mechanical origin of the entropy of a black hole. According to this idea, gravity becomes dynamical as the result of quantum effects in the system of heavy constituents of the underlying theory.The black hole entropy is related to the properties of the vacuum in the induced gravity in the presence of the horizon. We obtain the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy by direct counting the states of the constituents.