The population of NuSTAR Black Hole X-ray Binaries

Abstract

The spin of a black hole (BH) encodes information about its formation and evolution history. Yet the understanding of the distribution of BH spins in X-ray binaries (XBs), of the models used to measure spin, and of their impact on systematic uncertainties remains incomplete. In this work, we expand on previous analyses of the entire NuSTAR archive of accreting BH XBs. Prior work compiled a sample of 245 spectral fits using the relativistic reflection method for NuSTAR observations of 36 BH systems. Here, we aim to probe two aspects: the connection between BH spin and binary system properties, and the relationships between parameters in the spectral fits. We identify moderate negative correlations between spin uncertainty and both BH mass and system inclination, and a moderate positive correlation with distance. We also point out tentative multidimensional degeneracies between inclination, disk density, Fe abundance, ionization, and the presence or absence of absorption features from ionized outflows linked to disk winds. Lastly, we provide a comprehensive view of the observed distribution of BH spins in XBs, in comparison to spins inferred from gravitational waves. We find that the distribution of BH spins in XBs can be described by a beta distribution with $\alpha =5.66$ and $\beta =1.09$. This data set is highly complex, and the analysis presented here does not fully explore all potential parameter correlations. We make the full data set available in Zenodo to the community to encourage further exploration.

21 pages + appendix & references, 13 figures. Published in ApJ. Updated to match journal version

References in corpus (42)

• Array Programming with NumPy
• The Astropy Project: Sustaining and Growing a Community-oriented Open-source Project and the Latest Major Release (v5.0) of the Core Package
• Constraining Black Hole Spin Via X-ray Spectroscopy
• The role of the reflection fraction in constraining black hole spin
• Cygnus X-1 contains a 21-solar mass black hole -- implications for massive star winds
• A Parallax Distance to the Microquasar GRS 1915+105 and a Revised Estimate of its Black Hole Mass
• The Accretion Disk Wind in the Black Hole GRO J1655-40
• Polarized x-rays constrain the disk-jet geometry in the black hole x-ray binary Cygnus X-1
• A Determination of the Spin of the Black Hole Primary in LMC X-1
• The Origin of Black Hole Spin in Galactic Low-Mass X-ray Binaries
• Discovery of a dormant 33 solar-mass black hole in pre-release Gaia astrometry
• A radio parallax to the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070
• A rapidly-changing jet orientation in the stellar-mass black hole V404 Cygni
• The binary mass ratio in the black hole transient MAXI J1820+070
• The mass function of GX 339-4 from spectroscopic observations of its donor star
• The NewAthena mission concept in the context of the next decade of X-ray astronomy
• Suzaku observations of Mrk 335: Confronting partial covering and relativistic reflection
• Determination of mass of IGR J17091-3624 from "Spectro-Temporal" variations during onset-phase of the 2011 outburst
• Estimation of Mass of Compact Object in H 1743-322 from 2010 and 2011 Outbursts using TCAF Solution and Spectral Index - QPO Frequency Correlation
• Apples and Oranges: Comparing black holes in X-ray binaries and gravitational-wave sources
• The Uncertain Future of Massive Binaries Obscures the Origin of LIGO/Virgo Sources
• The Soft State of the Black Hole Transient Source MAXI J1820+070: Emission from the Edge of the Plunge Region?
• A Systematic View of Ten New Black Hole Spins
• A New Spin on an Old Black Hole: NuSTAR Spectroscopy of EXO 1846-031
• A giant X-ray dust scattering ring around the black hole transient MAXI J1348-630 discovered with SRG/eROSITA
• An HI absorption distance to the black hole candidate X-ray binary MAXI J1535-571
• Systematically Revisiting All NuSTAR Spins of Black Holes in X-Ray Binaries
• The observed mass distribution of Galactic black hole LMXBs is biased against massive black holes
• Black Hole Spin in X-ray Binaries: Giving Uncertainties an $f$
• Accretion and Outflow in V404 Cyg
• AstroSat Observation of X-ray Dips and State Transition in the Black Hole Candidate MAXI J1803-298
• First X-ray polarization measurement confirms the low black-hole spin in LMC X-3
• Impact of the disk thickness on X-ray reflection spectroscopy measurements
• X-ray spectra of black hole X-ray binaries with returning radiation
• Accretion Properties of MAXI J1813-095 during its Failed Outburst in 2018
• NICER/NuSTAR Characterization of 4U 1957+11: A Near Maximally Spinning Black Hole Potentially in the Mass Gap
• Broadband X-ray analysis of 1E 1740.7-2942: constraints on spin, inclination and a tentative black hole mass
• The Spin of a Newborn Black Hole: Swift J1728.9-3613
• A Dependable Distance Estimator to Black Hole Low-Mass X-ray Binaries
• About the accuracy of the relxill/relxill_nk models in view of the next generation of X-ray missions
• High-resolution radio observations of X-ray binaries
• Impact of the returning radiation on X-ray reflection spectroscopy measurements: the case of Galactic black holes