Observational evidence for stellar-mass black holes
Abstract
Radial velocity studies of X-ray binaries provide the most solid evidence for the existence of stellar-mass black holes. We currently have 20 confirmed cases, with dynamical masses in excess of 3 M⊙. Accurate masses have been obtained for a subset of systems which gives us a hint at the mass spectrum of the black hole population. This review summarizes the history of black hole discoveries and presents the latest results in the field.
- Publication:
-
Black Holes from Stars to Galaxies -- Across the Range of Masses
- Pub Date:
- April 2007
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0612312
- Bibcode:
- 2007IAUS..238....3C
- Keywords:
-
- Accretion;
- accretion disks;
- black hole physics;
- X-rays: binaries;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 9 pages, invited review to appear in Proceedings of IAU Symposium 238: "Black Holes: From Stars to Galaxies -Across the Range of Masses". Prague 14-18 August 2006