A 400-solar-mass black hole in the galaxy M82

Dheeraj R Pasham ¹, Tod E Strohmayer ², Richard F Mushotzky ³

⁰1] Astronomy Department, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA [2] Astrophysics Science Division and Joint Space-Science Institute, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA.

Nature +

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August 19, 2014

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Researchers discovered stable X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations in M82 X-1, an intermediate-mass black hole. This finding provides a more accurate mass estimate of approximately 428 solar masses for this black hole.

Area Of Science

Astrophysics
X-ray Astronomy
Black Hole Physics

Background

M82 X-1 is the brightest X-ray source in galaxy M82, previously estimated as an intermediate-mass black hole (100-10,000 solar masses) with significant mass uncertainty.
Prior mass estimations relied on low-frequency timescales, introducing large uncertainties.

Purpose Of The Study

To determine a more accurate mass for the intermediate-mass black hole M82 X-1.
To investigate the potential of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations for precise black hole mass determination.

Main Methods

Detection and analysis of high-frequency (3:2 ratio) X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) from M82 X-1.
Extrapolation of the inverse-mass scaling relation observed in stellar-mass black holes to M82 X-1.
Application of the relativistic precession model for mass estimation.

Main Results

Discovery of stable, twin-peak X-ray QPOs at 3.32 ± 0.06 Hz and 5.07 ± 0.06 Hz from M82 X-1.
Estimated black hole mass of M82 X-1 as 428 ± 105 solar masses using inverse-mass scaling.
Estimated black hole mass of M82 X-1 as 415 ± 63 solar masses using the relativistic precession model.

Conclusions

Stable, high-frequency QPOs offer a less ambiguous method for estimating intermediate-mass black hole masses.
The mass of M82 X-1 is robustly estimated to be around 400-430 solar masses, confirming its intermediate-mass status.

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