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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

How frequent are close supermassive binary black holes in powerful jet sources?

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Author(s):
Krause, Martin G. H. [1, 2] ; Shabala, Stanislav S. [2] ; Hardcastle, Martin J. [1] ; Bicknell, Geoffrey V. [3] ; Boehringer, Hans [4] ; Chon, Gayoung [4] ; Nawaz, Mohammad A. [5] ; Sarzi, Marc [1, 6, 7] ; Wagner, Alexander Y. [8]
Total Authors: 9
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Hertfordshire, Sch Phys Astron & Math, Ctr Astrophys Res, Coll Lane, Hatfield AL10 9AB, Herts - England
[2] Univ Tasmania, Sch Nat Sci, Private Bag 37, Hobart, Tas 7001 - Australia
[3] Australian Natl Univ, Res Sch Astron & Astrophys, Weston, ACT 2611 - Australia
[4] Max Planck Inst Extraterr Phys, Giessenbachstr, D-85748 Garching - Germany
[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, Rua Arlindo Bettio 1000, BR-03828000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[6] Armagh Observ, Coll Hill, Armagh BT61 9DG - North Ireland
[7] Planetarium, Coll Hill, Armagh BT61 9DG - North Ireland
[8] Univ Tsukuba, Ctr Computat Sci, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 3058577 - Japan
Total Affiliations: 8
Document type: Journal article
Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; v. 482, n. 1, p. 240-261, JAN 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 2
Abstract

Supermassive black hole binaries may be detectable by an upcoming suite of gravitational wave experiments. Their binary nature can also be revealed by radio jets via a short-period precession driven by the orbital motion as well as the geodetic precession at typically longer periods. We have investigated Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array and Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) radio maps of powerful jet sources for morphological evidence of geodetic precession. For perhaps the best-studied source, Cygnus A, we find strong evidence for geodetic precession. Projection effects can enhance precession features, for which we find indications in strongly projected sources. For a complete sample of 33 3CR radio sources, we find strong evidence for jet precession in 24 cases (73 per cent). The morphology of the radio maps suggests that the precession periods are of the order of 10(6)-10(7) yr. We consider different explanations for the morphological features and conclude that geodetic precession is the best explanation. The frequently observed gradual jet angle changes in samples of powerful blazars can be explained by orbital motion. Both observations can be explained simultaneously by postulating that a high fraction of powerful radio sources have subparsec supermassive black hole binaries. We consider complementary evidence and discuss if any jetted supermassive black hole with some indication of precession could be detected as individual gravitational wave source in the near future. This appears unlikely, with the possible exception of M87. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 15/25126-2 - Interaction of jets with the intracluster medium: the role of jet precession
Grantee:Mohammad Ali Nawaz
Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate