Constraints on the Size of Extra Dimensions from the Orbital Evolution of Black-Hole X-Ray Binaries

Abstract

One of the plausible unification schemes in physics considers the observable universe to be a 4-dimensional surface (the "brane") embedded in a higher-dimensional curved spacetime (the "bulk"). In such braneworld gravity models with infinitely large extra dimensions, black holes evaporate fast through the emission of the additional gravitational degrees of freedom, resulting in lifetimes of stellar-mass black holes that are significantly smaller than the Hubble time. We show that the predicted evaporation rate leads to a change in the orbital period of X-ray binaries harboring black holes that is observable with current instruments. We obtain an upper limit on the rate of change of the orbital period of the binary A0620-00 and use it to constrain the asymptotic curvature radius of the extra dimension to a value comparable to the one obtained by table-top experiments. Furthermore we argue that any measurement of a period increase for low-mass X-ray binaries with a high mass ratio is evidence for new physics beyond general relativity and the standard model.

arXiv commentaccepted for publication in ApJ, typo corrected

References in corpus (18)

• An Alternative to Compactification
• The Hierarchy Problem and New Dimensions at a Millimeter
• New Dimensions at a Millimeter to a Fermi and Superstrings at a TeV
• X-ray Properties of Black-Hole Binaries
• Tests of the Gravitational Inverse-Square Law below the Dark-Energy Length Scale
• Particle Physics Implications of a Recent Test of the Gravitational Inverse Square Law
• Improved constraints on non-Newtonian forces at 10 microns
• Quantum Black Holes as Holograms in AdS Braneworlds
• Classical black hole evaporation in Randall-Sundrum infinite braneworld
• Magnetic Braking of Ap/Bp Stars: Application to Compact Black-Hole X-Ray Binaries
• Black Hole Astrophysics in AdS Braneworlds
• Formation of Low-Mass X-ray Binaries. I. Constraints on Hydrogen-Rich Donors at the Onset of the X-ray Phase
• On the existence and dynamics of braneworld black holes
• The Eccentric Accretion Disc of the Black Hole A0620-00
• Chemical Abundances in the Secondary Star in the Black Hole Binary A0620-00
• Optical spectroscopy of flares from the black hole X-ray transient A0620-00 in quiescence
• Constraints on Braneworld Gravity Models from a Kinematic Limit on the Age of the Black Hole XTE J1118+480
• Evolution of low-mass binaries with black-hole components

Cited by in corpus (34)

• The Black Hole Mass Distribution in the Galaxy
• Theoretical Physics Implications of the Binary Black-Hole Mergers GW150914 and GW151226
• Foundations of Black Hole Accretion Disk Theory
• Gravitational Wave Tests of General Relativity with Ground-Based Detectors and Pulsar Timing Arrays
• Approximate Universal Relations for Neutron Stars and Quark Stars
• Extreme Gravity Tests with Gravitational Waves from Compact Binary Coalescences: (I) Inspiral-Merger
• Constraints on Einstein-Æther theory and Horava gravity from binary pulsar observations
• Black Hole Based Tests of General Relativity
• The Inclination of the Soft X-ray Transient A0620--00 and the Mass of its Black Hole
• The Origin of Black Hole Spin in Galactic Low-Mass X-ray Binaries
• Sgr A* and General Relativity
• New Constraint on Scalar Gauss-Bonnet Gravity and a Possible Explanation for the Excess of the Orbital Decay Rate in a Low-Mass X-ray Binary
• Theoretical Physics Implications of Gravitational Wave Observation with Future Detectors
• Testing the No-Hair Theorem with Observations of Black Holes in the Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Constraining the evolutionary history of Newton's constant with gravitational wave observations
• Probing the size of extra dimension with gravitational wave astronomy
• Scientific Potential of DECIGO Pathfinder and Testing GR with Space-Borne Gravitational Wave Interferometers
• Fast orbital decays of black hole X-ray binaries: XTE J1118+480 and A0620--00
• Parameterized and inspiral-merger-ringdown consistency tests of gravity with multi-band gravitational wave observations
• The fast spiral-in of the companion star to the black hole XTE J1118+480
• Population Synthesis of Black Hole X-Ray Binaries
• Constraints on the Size of Extra Dimensions from the Orbital Evolution of the Black-Hole X-Ray Binary XTE J1118+480
• Constraining the braneworld with gravitational wave observations
• Shrinking the Braneworld: Black Hole in a Globular Cluster
• A Precision Test for an Extra Spatial Dimension Using Black Hole--Pulsar Binaries
• Two approaches to testing general relativity in the strong-field regime
• Model-independent constraints on r^-3 extra-interactions from orbital motions
• Search for Dormant Black Holes in Ellipsoidal Variables II. A Binary Modified Minimum Mass Ratio
• Testing the Kerr metric using X-ray reflection spectroscopy: spectral analysis of GX 339-4
• Change in the orbital period of a binary system due to an outburst in a windy accretion disc
• Testing General Relativity in the Strong-Field Regime with Observations of Black Holes in the Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Jet-dominated quiescent state in black hole X-ray binaries: the cases of A0620--00 and XTE J1118+480
• Smearing of mass accretion rate variation by viscous processes in accretion disks in compact binary systems
• Density perturbations in braneworld cosmology and primordial black holes