A case for a binary black hole system revealed via quasi-periodic outflows
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Science Advances |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj8898 |
| Keywords | RADIATION PRESSURE INSTABILITY; ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI; PHOTON IMAGING CAMERA; INITIAL MASS FUNCTION; TIDAL DISRUPTION; SEYFERT-GALAXIES; XMM-NEWTON; NUMERICAL SCHEME; ACCRETION-DISC; EVOLUTION |
| Description | Binaries containing a compact object orbiting a supermassive black hole are thought to be precursors of gravitational wave events, but their identification has been extremely challenging. Here, we report quasi-periodic variability in x-ray absorption, which we interpret as quasi-periodic outflows (QPOuts) from a previously low-luminosity active galactic nucleus after an outburst, likely caused by a stellar tidal disruption. We rule out several models based on observed properties and instead show using general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations that QPOuts, separated by roughly 8.3 days, can be explained with an intermediate-mass black hole secondary on a mildly eccentric orbit at a mean distance of about 100 gravitational radii from the primary. Our work suggests that QPOuts could be a new way to identify intermediate/extreme-mass ratio binary candidates. |
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