An unusually massive stellar black hole in the Galaxy

Details An unusually massive stellar black hole in the Galaxy An unusually massive stellar black hole in the Galaxy

2001-11-28

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0111538v1

Nature414:522,2001

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

appeared in Nature 414, p. 522 (Nov. 29, 2001)

Scientific paper

10.1038/35107019

Here we report a measurement of the orbital period and mass function of GRS 1915+105 which allow us to deduce a mass of 14 +- 4 solar masses for its black hole. This large mass provides a challenge for black hole formation scenarios in binaries, since black holes with masses above 5-7 solar masses are hard to explain. Also, the mass estimate allows us to understand the unique X-ray variability of GRS 1915+105 as being due to instabilities of a radiation-pressure dominated disk radiating near the Eddington limit. Finally, several models are constrained which relate observable X-ray properties to the spin of black holes in microquasars. Once further calibrated, these relations may soon turn into a valuable tool to study relativistic effects in strong gravitational fields.

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