Mass Measurements of Stellar and Intermediate-Mass Black Holes
Abstract
We discuss the method, and potential systematic effects therein, used for measuring the mass of stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binaries. We restrict our discussion to the method that relies on the validity of Kepler's laws; we refer to this method as the dynamical method. We briefly discuss the implications of the mass distribution of stellar-mass black holes and provide an outlook for future measurements. Further, we investigate the evidence for the existence of intermediate-mass black holes i.e. black holes with masses above 100 M⊙, the limit to the black hole mass that can be produced by stellar evolution in the current Universe.
- Publication:
-
Space Science Reviews
- Pub Date:
- September 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s11214-013-0030-6
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1311.5118
- Bibcode:
- 2014SSRv..183..223C
- Keywords:
-
- Black holes;
- X-ray binaries;
- Accretion disks;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- 28 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in Space Science Reviews (DOI 10.1007/s11214-013-0030-6). Also to appear in hard cover in the Space Sciences Series of ISSI "The Physics of Accretion onto Black Holes" (Springer Publisher). Replaced with a new version including a new Fig.1, fixed two references, some typos and minor style changes