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A noninteracting low-mass black hole–giant star binary system

Thompson, Todd A. ; Kochanek, Christopher S. ; Stanek, Krzysztof Z. ; Badenes, Carles ; Post, Richard S. ; Jayasinghe, Tharindu ; Latham, David W. ; Bieryla, Allyson ; Esquerdo, Gilbert A. and Berlind, Perry , et al. (2019) In Science 366(6465). p.637-640
Abstract

Black hole binary systems with companion stars are typically found via their x-ray emission, generated by interaction and accretion. Noninteracting binaries are expected to be plentiful in the Galaxy but must be observed using other methods. We combine radial velocity and photometric variability data to show that the bright, rapidly rotating giant star 2MASS J05215658+4359220 is in a binary system with a massive unseen companion. The system has an orbital period of ~83 days and near-zero eccentricity. The photometric variability period of the giant is consistent with the orbital period, indicating star spots and tidal synchronization. Constraints on the giant’s mass and radius imply that the unseen companion is 3:3þ... (More)

Black hole binary systems with companion stars are typically found via their x-ray emission, generated by interaction and accretion. Noninteracting binaries are expected to be plentiful in the Galaxy but must be observed using other methods. We combine radial velocity and photometric variability data to show that the bright, rapidly rotating giant star 2MASS J05215658+4359220 is in a binary system with a massive unseen companion. The system has an orbital period of ~83 days and near-zero eccentricity. The photometric variability period of the giant is consistent with the orbital period, indicating star spots and tidal synchronization. Constraints on the giant’s mass and radius imply that the unseen companion is 3:3þ - 2 0 : : 8 7 solar masses, indicating that it is a noninteracting low-mass black hole or an unexpectedly massive neutron star.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Science
volume
366
issue
6465
pages
4 pages
publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
external identifiers
  • pmid:31672898
  • scopus:85074413108
ISSN
0036-8075
DOI
10.1126/science.aau4005
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b3776409-b1d5-4b33-9bbc-ddc97adf4424
date added to LUP
2019-11-19 13:50:47
date last changed
2024-05-01 23:27:13
@article{b3776409-b1d5-4b33-9bbc-ddc97adf4424,
  abstract     = {{<p>Black hole binary systems with companion stars are typically found via their x-ray emission, generated by interaction and accretion. Noninteracting binaries are expected to be plentiful in the Galaxy but must be observed using other methods. We combine radial velocity and photometric variability data to show that the bright, rapidly rotating giant star 2MASS J05215658+4359220 is in a binary system with a massive unseen companion. The system has an orbital period of ~83 days and near-zero eccentricity. The photometric variability period of the giant is consistent with the orbital period, indicating star spots and tidal synchronization. Constraints on the giant’s mass and radius imply that the unseen companion is 3:3<sup>þ</sup> <sub>-</sub> <sup>2</sup> <sub>0</sub> <sup>:</sup> <sub>:</sub> <sup>8</sup> <sub>7</sub> solar masses, indicating that it is a noninteracting low-mass black hole or an unexpectedly massive neutron star.</p>}},
  author       = {{Thompson, Todd A. and Kochanek, Christopher S. and Stanek, Krzysztof Z. and Badenes, Carles and Post, Richard S. and Jayasinghe, Tharindu and Latham, David W. and Bieryla, Allyson and Esquerdo, Gilbert A. and Berlind, Perry and Calkins, Michael L. and Tayar, Jamie and Lindegren, Lennart and Johnson, Jennifer A. and Holoien, Thomas W.S. and Auchettl, Katie and Covey, Kevin}},
  issn         = {{0036-8075}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6465}},
  pages        = {{637--640}},
  publisher    = {{American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}},
  series       = {{Science}},
  title        = {{A noninteracting low-mass black hole–giant star binary system}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aau4005}},
  doi          = {{10.1126/science.aau4005}},
  volume       = {{366}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}