This article explores what we know about stellar-mass black holes and how we find them. To do this, we need to look at what a stellar-mass black hole is and how we can detect its presence. Due to their nature, we can not view them directly.
Just a warning. This is a more technical article than others on our website. If you are after a simpler description of black holes see Are Black Holes Spheres?. However we encourage you to read this article for a good understanding of stellar-mas black holes.
All known stellar-mass black holes (and candidates) are found in a binary system with normal stars. This association allows us to infer their presence. To date, 20 systems are known to contain bodies too compact to be neutron stars. There are also another 20 systems with black hole candidates. However, vital information about these systems has yet to be determined (Bemillard and McClintock 2006). Since about half of stars are contained in binary systems, there are likely to be many more.
Other types of black holes include super-massive and intermediate-mass black holes. Super-massive black holes have been found at the centre of our galaxy and other large galaxies. Intermediate black holes are thought to exist and are of a mass between stellar-mass and super-massive black holes. Primordial black holes are hypothetical objects that are thought to have resulted from the Big Bang. These objects are beyond the scope of this essay.
Evolution of Stellar-Mass Black Holes Binary Systems
Stellar-mass black holes result from the collapse of stars with masses of less than 100 solar masses (COSweb) The development of a black hole from such stars is the result of the exhaustion of fusion fuel in, and around, the core of the star (Freedman and Kauffman) Without fusion supplying outward pressure to counteract gravity, a supernova results. If the remains are greater than the theoretical mass limit of a neutron star (ie 2.3 solar masses) a black hole may form. Typically known stellar-mass black holes are between 3 and 20 solar masses.
In close binary systems, mass can be transferred from the normal star to the compact body. This may be due to tidal forces or when the optical star swells to become a red giant near the end of its life overflowing onto the Roche lobe of the compact companion. The material does not move directly from the star to the black hole but swirls around it in an accretion disk. The material spirals inwards on its inevitable journey to become part of the black hole.
As the inward moving gas gets closer to the black hole’s event horizon its temperature increases due to friction and collisions. In the final 200km the temperature increases to 10’s of million Kelvin. At these temperatures, the particles emit x-ray and gamma radiation (fig. 1). It is this radiation that we can detect. The presence of x-ray emissions from binary systems containing a compact component is the best indicator of a black hole that we have. We are able to detect x-ray emissions that originate within 90km of the event horizon of a black hole.
Figure 1:Illustration showing the exchange of gas from an optical binary star to its companion black hole. The material collects in the accretion disk and spirals into the black hole due to gravity. Friction within accretion increases the temperature to a point where (in the last 200km) x-ray radiation is emitted before the gas falls past the event horizon. (source HARVweb)
X-ray Binary System Types
X-ray emitting binary systems containing black holes can be divided into two classes (CAMBweb): high mass x-ray binaries (HMXB) and low mass x-ray binaries (LMXB.) HMXBs contain optical members with masses greater than 10 solar masses. They form when the larger of stars in the binary system reaches the end of its life, resulting in a supernova and the remnants being of more mass than the limits of a neutron star (NOVAweb.) The remaining visible star is a O or B class star. As the smaller star nears the end of its life it enters the red giant stage with mass transfer taking place. This is known as the HMXB stage.
Of the 20 known black hole containing binary system three of them are consistently bright in x-ray radiation. These systems contain large O or B class optical companion stars (i.e. they are HMXB systems.) This indicates that a steady stream of material is being accreted by the black hole (fig 2).
| Figure 2: A model for the development of a HMXB system (source NOVAweb) Initial system with 2 stars in binary system. The larger star approaches the end of its life and becomes a red supergiant with the smaller star capturing gas from it. The larger companion’s life ends resulting in a supernova. As the remnant of the star is greater than 3 solar masses so a black hole forms. The black hole captures solar wind and gas from the remaining star. The star reaches the end of its life and becomes a red giant. This results in an increased rate of mass transfer. The remaining star forms a supernova at the end of its life. If the remnant of that star is greater than 3 solar masses it will form a black hole. |
LMXB systems consist of a body the same mass as our sun or less and a black hole (or other compact body, see fig 3.) The origin of the low mass x-ray binary systems is less clear and may be the result of a black hole capturing a star. These systems result in a slow mass transfer and x-rays being emitted periodically in bursts.
Observations of LMXB systems have shown that the period between individual bursts varies between the systems. The burst may last days to months and fade over a period of a year. The optical partner has also been observed to fade after an x-ray burst. The mechanism causing these burst is thought to be due to instabilities in the accretion disk due to insufficient flow of material from the companion star. The x-ray emissions are softer than from LMXB systems (i.e. of lower energy.) It is thought that the normal star overflows into the black holes Roche lobe allowing transfer of gas.
| Figure 3: A LMXB system showing mass transfer of material as the star overflows onto the black hole’s Roche lobe. |
X-ray Binary System States
There are a number of states into which x-ray binary systems are classified (McClintock and Remillard, 2004). Three of the five states are quite clearly different. In the high/soft state, the system has the highest luminosity at x-ray frequencies. X-rays originating in the accretion disk dominate the system. In the low/hard state, emission from the disk is less and dominated by emissions from the corona (termed as non-thermal emissions, Malzac, 2008.) The difference between these two states is thought to be due to the disk being cooler and withdrawn from the black hole. The system may also be in a quiescent state in which non-thermal emissions also dominate. The remaining two states are intermediately between the low/hard and the high/soft states
The interaction between the accretion disk and a black hole’s magnetic field may give rise to radio jets. These jets occur when a system is in the low/hard state and material from the accretion disk is ejected along the poles of the body’s rotation. Radio emissions observed is the result of electrons travelling at relativistic velocities.
How We Detect Stellar-mass Black Holes
A black hole may possess three properties: mass, electrical change, and spin. None of these properties can be detected directly from a remote location. However, determining the mass of the compact body is important as it is an important indicator of the object’s nature.
The effect that mass has on other bodies can be determined. The gravitational effect that a black hole has on nearby bodies is a significant tool available to astronomers. If we can determine the mass of the optical member and the orbital period of the binary it is possible to calculate the mass of the unseen partner in the system. To achieve this, we can use our knowledge of the association between spectral type and stellar mass, as well as Newton’s form of Kepler’s third law, to determine the mass of the compact body.
The difficult part of determining the mass of the black hole from Kepler’s third Law is determining the radial velocity. As these systems can not be resolved optically we must rely on other methods. One of these methods is to investigate the spectroscopic change in the optical object due to blue-shift (as the star move towards us) and red-shift (as it moves away.) To be most effective the plane of the orbit needs to be directed towards the observer (LaSala, Charles, Smith et al, 1998).
The spectrographic method can determine orbital period but may also be used to determine radial velocities. However, only the velocity towards and away from the observer can be calculated. Therefore, unless the plane of orbit is directed towards the observer, the measured velocity will not be its true velocity. As such only the minimum mass of the compact body can be determined if the orbit plane is inclined.
If the accretion disk is eclipsed by the normal star it is possible to determine the angle at which the orbital plane is inclined (ASTROweb) In this case a more accurate radial velocity can be determined.
An important indicator that a compact body is a neutron star rather than a black hole is the presence of x-ray busters. X-ray bursters occur when gas from the companion star deposits gas onto the surface of the neutron star (Freedman and Kauffman p 571-572.) As the newly arrived hydrogen is converted to helium it is deposited onto the surface of the neutron star. Once the layer is about 1 metre thick the temperature can increase enough to cause helium fusion. The result is a short-lived thermonuclear flash that fades in seconds. As a black hole does not have a surface this can not happen. Therefore, if x-ray bursters are present in a system a neutron star must be present.
Some systems containing compact objects have spectra signatures indicating that the compact object is a neutron star. As the material from the accretion disk mixes with the atmosphere of the neutron star the resultant energy state changes should be reflected in the black body radiation of the neutron star. This can be used to disprove a black body candidate if the signature is present.
Case Study: Cygnus X-1
The case of Cygnus X-1 is worth detailing as it highlights may of the techniques used be astronomers to detect black holes. In 1971 the Uhuru x-ray satellite detected an x-ray source unlike those known to astronomers at the time (Freedman and Kauffman p 586-587.) This new source was highly variable with changes measure in the hundredths of a second. This interested astronomers as any ‘flickering’ can not be quicker than the time for light to cross the object. The implication was that the body was less than 3000km across. Figure 2 shows a model of the development of this system.
Soon afterwards, it was discovered that Cygnus X-1 periodically emitted bursts of radio frequency radiation. This radiation came from the same place in the sky as the star HDE 226868. Spectroscopic investigations found that HDE 226868 was a B0 class star, which does not emit X-ray radiation.
Another part of the puzzle came from the periodic Doppler shifting of the light from HDE 226868. The period of the shift was at 5.6 days. This type of periodic shifting is indicative of binary system (LaSala, Charles, Smith et al, 1998) Due to the information gathered about HDE 226868 it is thought that the star has of about 30 solar masses. Given this mass and the orbital period (with use of Newton’s form of Kepler’s third law) the invisible companion of HDE 226868 is 7 solar masses or more. The maximum limit of a neutron star is about 3 solar masses (Bemillard and McClintock 2006) so the invisible partner must be a black hole. This system is likely to contain a 16 solar mass black hole (ASTROweb.) The presence of radio emissions and a lack of negative indicators of a compact body surface reinforces the conclusion that this system contains a black hole.
Conclusion
Binary star systems containing stellar-mass black holes are varied and the distinction between a black hole and a neutron star within a system can be tricky to determine. However, we have found that it is possible to gain enough information to be fairly sure that what we see is the result of a stellar-mass black hole.
We detect black holes due to the dynamics of binary systems containing these objects and the presence of an x-ray and radio source. We can use the absence of certain indicators that the compact body has a surface. If a surface is present the object can not be a black hole
Since most stars that we observe are contained in binary systems it is likely that many more stellar black holes are still to be located.
I found astronomy while working in dark rural locations. Initially, I explored the night sky and learnt the constellations before purchasing a pair of binoculars to further my knowledge of the sky.
My first telescope was a 200 mm Newtonian reflector on an equatorial mount. I found that this telescope had a steep learning curve but was a rewarding experience.
As time progressed, I became interested in astrophotography. This resulted in purchasing a 110 mm refracting telescope and a dedicated monochrome-cooled astronomical camera. This resulted in another very rewarding steep learning curve that far surpassed the experience with my first telescope.
I have joined Telescope Guru to share my knowledge of telescopes and astronomy.
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