Revealing the Galactic Population of BHs

TL;DR

This paper advocates for using the Next Generation Very Large Array to discover and study black hole X-ray binaries through astrometric methods, promising significant new detections and detailed characterizations.

Contribution

It proposes a novel application of the ngVLA for discovering and characterizing black hole X-ray binaries via astrometry, highlighting its unique capabilities.

Findings

Potential to find ~100 new black hole X-ray binaries

Feasible parallax and astrometric wobble measurements

ngVLA's high resolution and survey speed enable new parameter space exploration

Abstract

We discuss the case for using the Next Generation Very Large Array both to discover new black hole X-ray binaries astrometrically, and to characterize them. We anticipate that the ngVLA will be able to find $\sim$100 new black hole X-ray binaries, as well as a host of other interesting radio stars, in a few hundred hour survey. Parallax and astrometric wobble measurements will be achievable in feasible follow-up surveys especially using long baseline capabilities. The ngVLA's high angular resolution, high survey speed, and high frequency sensitivity give it a unique range of parameter space over which it is sensitive.