Related papers: Maximum black-hole spin from quasi-circular binary…
We study accretion rates during the gravitational wave-driven merger of a binary supermassive black hole embedded in an accretion disc, formed by gas driven to the centre of the galaxy. We use 3D simulations performed with PHANTOM, a…
We obtain empirical formulae for the final remnant black hole mass, spin, and recoil velocity from merging black-hole binaries with arbitrary mass ratios and spins. Our formulae are based on the mass ratio and spin dependence of the…
We compute the probability distribution for the spin of a black hole following a series of minor mergers with isotropically distributed, non-spinning, inspiraling compact objects. By solving the Fokker-Planck equation governing this…
The mass of a black hole is the sum of the irreducible mass and the mass associated with the rotational or spin energy of the black hole. The contribution of spin energy (divided by $c^2$) to the total black hole mass is studied here for…
Recent numerical relativity simulations have shown that the final black hole produced in a binary merger can recoil with a velocity as large as 5,000 km/s. Because of enhanced gravitational-wave emission in the so-called "hang-up"…
During the fourth observing run, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration reported the detection of a coalescing compact binary (GW230529$_{-}$181500) with component masses estimated at $2.5-4.5\, M_\odot$ and $1.2-2.0\, M_\odot$ with 90\%…
We discuss the transition from quasi-circular inspiral to plunge of a system of two nonrotating black holes of masses $m_1$ and $m_2$ in the extreme mass ratio limit $m_1m_2\ll (m_1+m_2)^2$. In this limit, we compare the merger waveforms…
We use a 3-D relativistic SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) code to study mergers of black hole -- neutron star (BH--NS) binary systems with low mass ratios, adopting $M_{NS}/M_{BH} \simeq 0.1$ as a representative case. The outcome of…
Circumbinary accretion occurs throughout the universe, from the formation of stars and planets to the aftermath of major galactic mergers. We present an extensive investigation of circumbinary accretion disks, studying circular binaries…
Cygnus X-1 is a well-studied persistent black hole X-ray binary. Recently, the three parameters needed to estimate the black hole spin of this system, namely the black hole mass $M$, the orbital inclination $i$ and the source distance $D$,…
The spin measurement of black holes has important implications in physics and astrophysics. Regardless of the specific technique to estimate the black hole spin, all the current approaches assume that the space-time geometry around the…
We evolve equal-mass, equal-spin black-hole binaries with specific spins of a/mH 0.925, the highest spins simulated thus far and nearly the largest possible for Bowen-York black holes, in a set of configurations with the spins…
We compute the gravitational waveform emitted during the transition from quasi-spherical inspiral to plunge, merger and ringdown for a system of two black holes in the extreme mass ratio limit, where the primary is spinning and the…
The formation and growth of supermassive black holes is a key issue to unveil the secrets of galaxy formation. In particular, the gravitational recoil produced in the merger of unequal mass black hole binaries could have a number of…
Black holes are spun up by accreting matter and possibly spun-down by magnetic fields. In our work we consider the effect on black hole rotation of the two electromagnetic processes, Blandford-Znajek and Direct Magnetic Link, that differ in…
In 4D general relativity, the angular momentum of a black hole is limited by the Kerr bound. We suggest that in string theory, this bound can be breached and compact black-hole-like objects can spin faster. Near such "superspinars," the…
In a previous paper, arXiv:2411.11960 [gr-qc], we initiated a study of high-energy interactions of charged binary black holes near the scattering threshold, focusing on zoom-whirl orbits. In this second paper in our series, we focus on…
We build an evolution model of the central black hole that depends on the processes of gas accretion, the capture of stars, mergers as well as electromagnetic torque. In case of gas accretion in the presence of cooling sources, the flow is…
We study the spin dynamics of individual black holes in a binary system. In particular we focus on the polar precession of spins and the possibility of a complete flip of spins with respect to the orbital plane. We perform a full numerical…
Mergers of gas-rich galaxies are key events in the hierarchical built-up of cosmic structures, and can lead to the formation of massive black hole binaries. By means of high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations we consider the late stages…