Massive Binary Black Holes in the Cosmic Landscape
M. Colpi, M. Dotti

TL;DR
This paper reviews the formation, evolution, and significance of massive binary black holes in galaxy formation, emphasizing their role as gravitational wave sources and probes of general relativity.
Contribution
It provides a comprehensive overview of the physical processes, simulation techniques, and observational prospects related to massive binary black holes in the cosmic landscape.
Findings
Binary black holes form inevitably during galaxy mergers.
They are potential sources of detectable gravitational waves.
Black hole coalescence timescales depend on gas and stellar interactions.
Abstract
Binary black holes occupy a special place in our quest for understanding the evolution of galaxies along cosmic history. If massive black holes grow at the center of (pre-)galactic structures that experience a sequence of merger episodes, then dual black holes form as inescapable outcome of galaxy assembly. But, if the black holes reach coalescence, then they become the loudest sources of gravitational waves ever in the universe. Nature seems to provide a pathway for the formation of these exotic binaries, and a number of key questions need to be addressed: How do massive black holes pair in a merger? Depending on the properties of the underlying galaxies, do black holes always form a close Keplerian binary? If a binary forms, does hardening proceed down to the domain controlled by gravitational wave back reaction? What is the role played by gas and/or stars in braking the black holes,…
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