Growth of Stellar-mass Black Holes in Dense Molecular Clouds and GW190521
Jared Rice, Bing Zhang
Abstract
Abstract A stellar-mass black hole can grow its mass noticeably through Bondi accretion, if it is embedded in an extremely dense and massive molecular cloud with slow motion with respect to the ambient medium for an extended period of time. This provides a novel, yet challenging channel for the formation of massive stellar-mass black holes. We discuss how this channel may account for the massive binary black hole merger system GW190521 as observed by LIGO/Virgo gravitational wave detectors as well as the claimed massive black hole candidate LB-1.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsBinary black holeLIGOBlack hole (networking)Intermediate-mass black holeStellar black holeAstrophysicsGravitational waveAstronomyStellar massAccretion (finance)Star formationStarsGalaxyLink-state routing protocolComputer scienceComputer networkRouting protocolRouting (electronic design automation)Pulsars and Gravitational Waves ResearchAstrophysical Phenomena and ObservationsGamma-ray bursts and supernovae