The effect of stellar-mass black holes on the central kinematics of omega Cen: a cautionary tale for IMBH interpretations

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that the presence of a population of stellar-mass black holes can mimic signatures traditionally attributed to intermediate-mass black holes in globular clusters, emphasizing the need for careful analysis.

Contribution

The paper shows that stellar-mass black holes and radial anisotropy can produce observational signatures similar to IMBHs, challenging previous interpretations.

Findings

Models with ~5% black hole mass fit omega Cen data.

Stellar-mass black holes can mimic IMBH signatures.

Radial anisotropy and mass segregation influence kinematic profiles.

Abstract

The search for intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) in the centre of globular clusters is often based on the observation of a central cusp in the surface brightness profile and a rise towards the centre in the velocity dispersion profiles. Similar signatures, however, could result from other effects, that need to be taken into account in order to determine the presence (or the absence) of an IMBH in these stellar systems. Following our previous exploration of the role of radial anisotropy in shaping these observational signatures, we analyse here the effects produced by the presence of a population of centrally concentrated stellar-mass black holes. We fit dynamical models to omega Cen data, and we show that models with ~5% of their mass in black holes (consistent with ~100% retention fraction after natal kicks) can reproduce the data. When simultaneously considering both radial anisotropy and mass segregation, the best-fit model includes a smaller population of remnants, and a less extreme degree of anisotropy with respect to the models that include only one of these features. These results underline that before conclusions about putative IMBHs can be made, the effects of stellar-mass black holes and radial anisotropy need to be properly accounted for.