New Findings Reveal Mass Bias in Merging Black Holes Detected by Gravitational Waves

Two black holes merging into one are attracting attention as research results show that there is a distinct bias in their mass. This claim was made in the process of observing gravitational waves.

The German Heidelberg Institute for Theory (HITS) recently announced that there is a universal frequency in the gravitational waves generated when two black holes merge, suggesting a mass bias in binary black holes.

The dictionary meaning of gravitational waves advocated by Einstein through the general theory of relativity is ripples in space and time caused by gravitational changes that occur when an object with mass accelerates. A typical example of the occurrence of gravitational waves is the proximity and collision of black hole combinations.

An imagination that visualizes ripples that spread across space-time when black holes coalesce, that is, gravitational waves. <사진=NASA·칼텍 공식 홈페이지>

Gravitational waves, which existed only in theory, were confirmed in 2015, 100 years after Einstein’s prophecy. The Laser Interference Gravitational-Wave Observatory LIGO, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has captured gravitational waves for the first time ever.

An official from HITS said, “After the two stars belonging to the binary system become black holes, they get closer and in the process of colliding, enormous gravitational waves spread.” seen,” he explained.

“If we can find out the change in the chirp waveform, we can know the mass (chirp mass) of the merging black hole,” he said. I saw a possibility,” he added.

LIGO system established in Washington state, USA. The length of both arms, which were split like antennas, reached 4 km, and a large reflector was installed at the end. The interference phenomenon that occurs when gravitational waves pass through is measured with a laser. <사진=라이고·칼텍 공식 홈페이지>

According to HITS, as a result of gravitational wave analysis, the mass of a black hole that merges into one is divided into two types: smaller than 9 solar masses or larger than 16 solar masses. The intermediate mass seemed non-existent. HITS speculated that this phenomenon is a universal phenomenon not only in our galaxy but also in the universe as a whole.

In the distant universe, supermassive black holes tens of billions of times larger than the sun are often found. Black hole masses vary greatly because the chemical compositions of the stars that serve as sources are all different. Despite the difference in chemical composition, the research team concluded that the bias of the chirp mass is the same everywhere.

An official from HITS said, “Since black hole coalescence has not yet been observed, it is difficult to conclude that the results of this study are 100% correct.” fact,” he said.

Reporter Jeong Ian [email protected]

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