Massive binary black holes (105 M⊙–109 M⊙) form at the centre of galaxies that experience a merger episode. They are expected to coalesce into a larger black hole, following the emission of gravitational waves. Coalescing massive binary black holes are among the loudest sources of gravitational waves in the Universe, and the detection of these events is at the frontier of contemporary astrophysics. Understanding the black hole binary formation path and dynamics in galaxy’s mergers is therefore mandatory. A key question poses: during a merger, will the black holes descend over time on closer orbits, form a Keplerian binary and coalesce shortly after? Here we review progress discussing the fate of black holes in different environments: from major mergers of collisionless galaxies to major and minor mergers of gas-rich disc galaxies, from smooth and clumpy circum-nuclear discs to circum-binary discs present on the smallest scales inside galactic nuclei

Colpi, M. (2014). Massive Binary Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei and Their Path to Coalescence. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS, 183(1-4), 189-221 [10.1007/s11214-014-0067-1].

Massive Binary Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei and Their Path to Coalescence

COLPI, MONICA
Primo
2014

Abstract

Massive binary black holes (105 M⊙–109 M⊙) form at the centre of galaxies that experience a merger episode. They are expected to coalesce into a larger black hole, following the emission of gravitational waves. Coalescing massive binary black holes are among the loudest sources of gravitational waves in the Universe, and the detection of these events is at the frontier of contemporary astrophysics. Understanding the black hole binary formation path and dynamics in galaxy’s mergers is therefore mandatory. A key question poses: during a merger, will the black holes descend over time on closer orbits, form a Keplerian binary and coalesce shortly after? Here we review progress discussing the fate of black holes in different environments: from major mergers of collisionless galaxies to major and minor mergers of gas-rich disc galaxies, from smooth and clumpy circum-nuclear discs to circum-binary discs present on the smallest scales inside galactic nuclei
Articolo in rivista - Review Essay
Black hole binaries; Black hole physics; Dynamics; Galaxy mergers; Astronomy and Astrophysics; Space and Planetary Science
English
2014
183
1-4
189
221
none
Colpi, M. (2014). Massive Binary Black Holes in Galactic Nuclei and Their Path to Coalescence. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS, 183(1-4), 189-221 [10.1007/s11214-014-0067-1].
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/61140
Citazioni
  • Scopus 137
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 123
Social impact