Cancelled Hunting for black holes in binaries

by Dr. Tomer Shenar

TAU

at Astrophysics and Cosmology Seminar

Wed, 21 Feb 2024, 11:10
Sacta-Rashi Building for Physics (54), room 207

Abstract

It is still not known which stars collapse into black holes and which collapse into neutron stars, and under which conditions this collapse is associated with supernova explosions. This question represents a key uncertainty in the fields of gravitational-wave astrophysics and transients. In my seminar, I will discuss ongoing efforts to gain insights into this problem through the identification of X-ray quiet black holes in binary systems. I will explain how techniques such as high-precision astrometry and multi-epoch spectroscopy can unveil these elusive black holes and provide an overview of the current population of binary black holes in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. Additionally, I will briefly touch upon the discovery of a new group of stellar binaries known as 'black-hole impostors,' initially thought to contain black holes but now recognized as a rare evolutionary phase of massive binaries. Finally, I will conclude by highlighting future prospects using missions such as Gaia, 4MOST, and dedicated surveys with the Very Large Telescope.

Created on 18-02-2024 by Zitrin, Adi (zitrin)
Updaded on 21-02-2024 by Zitrin, Adi (zitrin)