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Gas Cloud G2 Can Illuminate the Black Hole Population Near the Galactic Center

Imre Bartos, Zoltán Haiman, Bence Kocsis, and Szabolcs Márka
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 221102 – Published 30 May 2013
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Abstract

Galactic nuclei are expected to be densely populated with stellar- and intermediate-mass black holes. Exploring this population will have important consequences for the observation prospects of gravitational waves as well as understanding galactic evolution. The gas cloud G2 currently approaching Sgr A* provides an unprecedented opportunity to probe the black hole and neutron star population of the Galactic nucleus. We examine the possibility of a G2-cloud–black-hole encounter and its detectability with current x-ray satellites, such as Chandra and NuSTAR. We find that multiple encounters are likely to occur close to the pericenter, which may be detectable upon favorable circumstances. This opportunity provides an additional important science case for leading x-ray observatories to closely follow G2 on its way to the nucleus.

  • Received 12 February 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.221102

© 2013 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Black-Hole Hunting with a Gas Cloud

Published 30 May 2013

A moving gas cloud might help probe a population of black holes believed to inhabit the center of our galaxy.

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Authors & Affiliations

Imre Bartos1,2,*, Zoltán Haiman2,3, Bence Kocsis4, and Szabolcs Márka1,2

  • 1Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
  • 2Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
  • 3Department of Astronomy, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
  • 4Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

  • *ibartos@phys.columbia.edu

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Issue

Vol. 110, Iss. 22 — 31 May 2013

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