Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Feb 1988
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1988apj...325..628s&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 325, Feb. 15, 1988, p. 628-634. Research supported by Nordisk Institut for
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
281
Binary Stars, Bl Lacertae Objects, Black Holes (Astronomy), Supermassive Stars, Extragalactic Radio Sources, Light Curve, Many Body Problem, Periodic Variations, Stellar Mass Accretion
Scientific paper
A historical light curve of the BL Lacertae object OJ 287 is constructed in the optical V band using observations between 1890 and the present. The curve exhibits periodic outbursts at intervals of 11.6 yr or 9 yr. The individual outbursts show an initial maximum with decaying submaxima at intervals of about 1 month. It is proposed that these characteristics are caused by a binary in the nucleus of OJ 287, with the binary members having an accretion disk around them. The outbursts at 9-yr intervals would be caused by the tidal action of the companion on the disk of the larger black hole. A computer simulation is used to demonstrate that the inflow into the center of such a disk during the repeated periastron passages of a companion will produce an outburst similar to the ones observed. Based on indirect evidence, probable masses of 5 billion solar and 20 million solar are determined for the two objects.
Byrd Gene Gilbert
Haarala S.
Sillanpää Aimo
Sundelius Bjorn
Valtonen Mauri J.
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