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GLOBULAR CLUSTERS HOSTING INTERMEDIATE-MASS BLACK HOLES: NO MASS-SEGREGATION BASED CANDIDATES.
- Source :
-
Astrophysical Journal . 6/1/2016, Vol. 823 Issue 2, p1-1. 1p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
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Abstract
- Recently, both stellar mass segregation and binary fractions were uniformly measured on relatively large samples of Galactic globular clusters (GCs). Simulations show that both sizable binary-star populations and intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) quench mass segregation in relaxed GCs. Thus mass segregation in GCs with a reliable binary-fraction measurement is a valuable probe to constrain IMBHs. In this paper we combine mass-segregation and binary-fraction measurements from the literature to build a sample of 33 GCs (with measured core binary fractions), and a sample of 43 GCs (with binary-fraction measurements in the area between the core radius and the half-mass radius). Within both samples we try to identify IMBH-host candidates. These should have relatively low mass segregation, a low binary fraction (<5%), and a short (<1 Gyr) relaxation time. Considering the core-binary-fraction sample, no suitable candidates emerge. If the binary fraction between the core and the half-mass radius is considered, two candidates are found, but this is likely due to statistical fluctuations. We also consider a larger sample of 54 GCs where we obtained an estimate of the core binary fraction using a predictive relation based on metallicity and integrated absolute magnitude. Also in this case no suitable candidates are found. Finally, we consider the GC core- to half-mass radius ratio, which is expected to be larger for GCs containing either an IMBH or binaries. We find that GCs with large core- to half-mass radius ratios are less mass-segregated (and show a larger binary fraction), confirming the theoretical expectation that the energy sources responsible for the large core are also quenching mass segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *GLOBULAR clusters
*METROLOGY
*ASTROPHYSICS
*BLACK holes
*READABILITY formulas
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0004637X
- Volume :
- 823
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Astrophysical Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 115895372
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/823/2/135