Proof of principle X-ray reflection mass measurement of the black hole in H1743-322

Nathan E, Ingram A, Steiner JF, König O, Dauser T, Lucchini M, Mastroserio G, van der Klis M, García JA, Connors R, Kara E, Wang J (2024)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press

Book Volume: 533

Pages Range: 2441-2453

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stae1896

Abstract

The black hole X-ray binary H1743-322 lies in a region of the Galaxy with high extinction, and therefore it has not been possible to make a dynamical mass measurement. In this paper, we make use of a recent model which uses the X-ray reflection spectrum to constrain the ratio of the black hole mass to the source distance. By folding in a reported distance measurement, we are able to estimate the mass of the black hole to be 12 ± 2 M☉ (1σ credible interval). We are then able to revise a previous disc continuum fitting estimate of black hole spin a∗ (previously relying on a population mass distribution) using our new mass constraint, finding a∗ = 0.47 ± 0.10. This work is a proof of principle demonstration of the method, showing it can be used to find the mass of black holes in X-ray binaries.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thomas Dauser Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut

Involved external institutions

University of Amsterdam

Netherlands (NL) Newcastle University

United Kingdom (GB) Smithsonian Institution

United States (USA) (US) Università degli studi di Milano

Italy (IT) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

United States (USA) (US) California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

United States (USA) (US) Villanova University

United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Nathan, E., Ingram, A., Steiner, J.F., König, O., Dauser, T., Lucchini, M.,... Wang, J. (2024). Proof of principle X-ray reflection mass measurement of the black hole in H1743-322. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 533(2), 2441-2453. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae1896

MLA:

Nathan, Edward, et al. "Proof of principle X-ray reflection mass measurement of the black hole in H1743-322." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 533.2 (2024): 2441-2453.

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