The Heavier the Faster

A Subpopulation of Heavy, Rapidly Spinning and Quickly Evolving Binary Black Holes

authored by: Wei Hua Guo, Yin Jie Li, Yuan Zhu Wang, Yong Shao, Shi Chao Wu, Tao Zhu, Yi Zhong Fan
Abstract: The spins of binary black holes (BBHs) measured from gravitational waves contain valuable information about their formation pathways. In this study, we propose a new quantity, the “dimensionless net spin” (χ _N), which relates to the sum of the angular momenta of the component black holes (BHs) in the system, offering a novel perspective for exploring the origins of BBHs. Through hierarchical Bayesian inference on χ _N, we find strong evidence that its distribution is better described by two Gaussian components rather than one, and their branching ratios vary with total mass and redshift: there is a narrow peak at χ _N ∼ 0.15 and an extended peak at χ _N ∼ 0.3-0.6. The rapidly spinning systems likely dominate the high-mass end of the population and evolve with redshift more quickly. These findings present new challenges to the field binary formation scenario and suggest that dynamical processes may play a key role in the formation of high total mass BBHs.
Organisation(s): Institute of Gravitation Physics
External Organisation(s): Zhejiang University of Technology
CAS - Purple Mountain Observatory
Nanjing University
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)
Type: Article
Journal: Astrophysical Journal
Volume: 975
No. of pages: 15
ISSN: 0004-637X
Publication date: 24.10.2024
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2406.03257 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad758a (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{73e7a64d476b44e683a75dbfbaec77b3,
title = "The Heavier the Faster: A Subpopulation of Heavy, Rapidly Spinning and Quickly Evolving Binary Black Holes",
abstract = "The spins of binary black holes (BBHs) measured from gravitational waves contain valuable information about their formation pathways. In this study, we propose a new quantity, the “dimensionless net spin” (χ N), which relates to the sum of the angular momenta of the component black holes (BHs) in the system, offering a novel perspective for exploring the origins of BBHs. Through hierarchical Bayesian inference on χ N, we find strong evidence that its distribution is better described by two Gaussian components rather than one, and their branching ratios vary with total mass and redshift: there is a narrow peak at χ N ∼ 0.15 and an extended peak at χ N ∼ 0.3-0.6. The rapidly spinning systems likely dominate the high-mass end of the population and evolve with redshift more quickly. These findings present new challenges to the field binary formation scenario and suggest that dynamical processes may play a key role in the formation of high total mass BBHs.",
author = "Guo, {Wei Hua} and Li, {Yin Jie} and Wang, {Yuan Zhu} and Yong Shao and Wu, {Shi Chao} and Tao Zhu and Fan, {Yi Zhong}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.",
year = "2024",
month = oct,
day = "24",
doi = "10.48550/arXiv.2406.03257",
language = "English",
volume = "975",
journal = "Astrophysical Journal",
issn = "0004-637X",
publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",
number = "1",
}