Abstract
We discuss constraints on black hole spin and spin-related astrophysics as derived from X-ray spectroscopy. After a brief discussion about the robustness with which X-ray spectroscopy can be used to probe strong gravity, we summarize how these techniques can constrain black hole spin. In particular, we highlight XMM-Newton studies of the Seyfert galaxy MCG-6-30-15 and the stellarmass black hole GX 339-4. The broad X-ray iron line profile, together with reasonable and general astrophysical assumptions, allow a non-rotating black hole to be rejected in both of these sources. If we make the stronger assertion of no emission from within the innermost stable circular orbit, the MCG-6-30-15 data constrain the dimensionless spin parameter to be a > 0.93. Furthermore, these XMM-Newton data are already providing evidence for exotic spin-related astrophysics in the central regions of this object.We conclude with a discussion of the impact that Constellation-X will have on the study of strong gravity and black hole spin.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Agol, E. and Krolik, J.H.: 2000, ApJ 528, 161.
Armitage, P.J. and Reynolds, C.S.: 2003, MNRAS 341, 1041.
Blandford, R.D. and Znajek, R.L.: 1977, MNRAS 179, 433.
Dovciak, M., Karas, V. and Yaqoob, T.: 2004, ApJS 153, 205.
Fabian, A.C., Iwasawa, K., Reynolds, C.S. and Young, A.J.: 2000, PASP 112, 1145.
Fabian, A.C., et al.: 1995, MNRAS 277, L11.
Gammie, C.F.: 1999, ApJ 522, L57.
Garofalo, D. and Reynolds, C.S.: 2005, ApJ 624, 94.
Hawley, J.F. and Krolik, J.H.: 2001, ApJ 548, 348.
Iwasawa, K., et al.: 1996, MNRAS 282, 1038.
Iwasawa, I., Miniutti, G. and Fabian, A.C.: 2004, MNRAS 355, 1073.
Krolik, J.H.: 1999, ApJ 515, L73.
Marconi, A., Risaliti, G., Gilli, R., Hunt, L.K., Mailino, R. and Salvati, M.: 2004, MNRAS 351, 169.
Miller, J.M., et al.: 2004, ApJL 606, L131.
Miniutti, G. and Fabian, A.C.: 2004, MNRAS 349, 1435.
Novikov, I.D., Thorne, K.S.: 1974, in: C. DeWitt and D. DeWitt (eds.), Black Holes, p. 343.
Page, D.N. and Thorne, K.S.: 1974, ApJ 191, 499.
Reynolds, C.S. and Armitage, P.J.: 2002, ApJ 561, L81.
Reynolds, C.S. and Begelman, M.C.: 1997, ApJ 487, 109.
Reynolds, C.S. and Nowak, M.A.: 2003, Phys. Rep. 377, 389.
Reynolds, C.S., Wilms, J., Begelman, M.C., Staubert, R. and Kendziorra, E.: 2004, 349, 1153.
Reynolds, C.S., Young, A.J., Fabian, A.C. and Begelman, M.C.: 1999, ApJ 514, 164.
Schurch, N.J. and Warwick, R.S.: 2002, MNRAS 334, 811.
Schurch, N.J., Warwick, R.S., Griffiths, R.E. and Sembay, S.: 2003, MNRAS 345, 423.
Speith, R., Riffert, H. and Ruder, H., CoPhC, 88, 109.
Stella, L., Vietri, M. and Morsink, S.M.: 1999, ApJ 524, 63.
Strohmayer, T.E.: 2001, ApJ 554, L169.
Vaughan, S. and Fabian, A.C.: 2004, 348, 1415.
Wang, J.X., Zhou, Y.Y. and Wang, T.G.: 1999, ApJ 523, L129.
Williams, R.K.: 2003, astro-ph/0306135v1.
Wilms, J., Reynolds, C.S., Begelman, M.C., Reeves, J., Molendi, S., Staubert, R. and Kendziorra, E.: 2001, MNRAS 328, L27.
Young, A.J. and Reynolds, C.S.: 2000, ApJ 529, 101.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Reynolds, C.S., Brenneman, 1.W., Garofalo, D. (2005). Black hole spin in AGN and GBHCs. In: Maccarone, T.J., Fender, R.P., Ho, L.C. (eds) Astrophysics and Space Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4085-7_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4085-7_9
Received:
Accepted:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-4084-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-4085-6
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)