Black hole spin-orbit misalignment in the X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070

Abstract

The observational signatures of black holes in x-ray binary systems depend on their masses, spins, accretion rate and the misalignment angle between the black hole spin and the orbital angular momentum. We present optical polarimetric observations of the black hole x-ray binary MAXI J1820+070, from which we constrain the position angle of the binary orbital axis. Combining this with previous determinations of the relativistic jet orientation axis, which traces the black hole spin, and the inclination of the orbit, we determine a lower limit of 40 deg on the spin-orbit misalignment angle. The misalignment has to originate from either the binary or black hole formation stage. If other x-ray binaries have similarly large misalignments, these would bias measurements of black hole masses and spins from x-ray observations.

31 pages, 9 figures

References in corpus (12)

• Global General Relativistic MHD Simulation of a Tilted Black-Hole Accretion Disk
• Alignment of Magnetized Accretion Disks and Relativistic Jets with Spinning Black Holes
• The characteristic blue spectra of accretion disks in quasars as uncovered in the infrared
• An extremely powerful long-lived superluminal ejection from the black hole MAXI J1820+070
• A radio parallax to the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070
• Hot accretion flow in black hole binaries: a link connecting X-rays to the infrared
• The binary mass ratio in the black hole transient MAXI J1820+070
• Relativistic X-ray jets from the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070
• A timing study of MAXI J1820+070 based on Swift/XRT and NICER monitoring in 2018/19
• Interpreting Flux from Broadband Photometry
• Broad-band spectral study of X-ray transient MAXI J1820+070 using Swift/XRT and NuSTAR
• Disc and wind in black hole X-ray binary MAXIJ1820+070 observed through polarized light during its 2018 outburst

Cited by in corpus (24)

• Apples and Oranges: Comparing black holes in X-ray binaries and gravitational-wave sources
• Polarized X-rays from windy accretion in Cygnus X-1
• GW241011 and GW241110: Exploring Binary Formation and Fundamental Physics with Asymmetric, High-Spin Black Hole Coalescence
• Tossing Black Hole Spin Axes
• X-ray polarization from accretion disk winds
• High-density reflection spectroscopy of black hole X-ray binaries in the hard state
• Accretion Scenario of MAXI J1820+070 during 2018 Outbursts with Multi-mission Observations
• Analysis of the reflection spectra of MAXI J1535-571 in the hard and intermediate states
• The Donor of the Black-Hole X-Ray Binary MAXI J1820+070
• A multi-wavelength study of the hard and soft states of MAXI J1820+070 during its 2018 outburst
• Evidence for a black hole spin--orbit misalignment in the X-ray binary Cyg X-1
• Gamma-ray observations of MAXI J1820+070 during the 2018 outburst
• X-ray spectral correlations in a sample of Low-mass black hole X-ray binaries in the hard state
• The Luminous, Hard State Can't Be MAD
• The Spin of a Newborn Black Hole: Swift J1728.9-3613
• Peering into the tilted heart of Cyg X-1 with high-precision optical polarimetry
• Optical polarization signatures of black hole X-ray binaries
• Multiwavelength Observations of the Black Hole X-ray Binary MAXI J1820$+$070 in the Rebrightening Phase
• Natal kicks of compact objects
• Analysis and simulations of binary black hole merger spins -- the question of spin-axis tossing at black hole formation
• Tilted Accretion Disks
• The simultaneity of emission from approaching and receding jets
• Optical and X-ray timing analysis of the 2018-2020 outburst and rebrightening of the black-hole transient MAXI J1820+070
• Optical polarimetry of the accreting black hole X-ray binary Swift J1727.8$-$1613 over the state transition and radio ejections