Messung der Masse des Schwarzen Loches in LMC X-3 (Measuring the mass of the black hole in LMC X-3)

TL;DR

This study analyzes observational data from 2007 to 2013 to accurately measure the mass and orbital inclination of the black hole in LMC X-3, contributing to understanding black hole properties in X-ray binaries.

Contribution

It provides the first precise measurement of the black hole mass and orbital inclination in LMC X-3 using extensive observational data and the XRbinary modeling program.

Findings

Black hole mass estimated at 7.15 ± 0.65 solar masses.

Orbital inclination determined to be approximately 68 degrees.

Results enable further studies on black hole rotation and mass distribution.

Abstract

Because of its high mass, the X-ray binary system LMC X-3 is a candidate for a binary system hosting a black hole. The goal of this work is to determine the mass of this black hole and the orbital inclination of the system. Therefore, data from the GROND instrument at the MPI/ESO 2.2m telescope at La Silla, Chile that was recorded between Oktober 20, 2007 and December 13, 2013 was analyzed. The program 'XRbinary' from Edward L. Robinson was used to describe the data and invert for the black hole mass and the orbital inclination of the binary system. The mass of the black hole was determined to ($7.15\pm0.65$) solar masses and the inclination to ($68^{+2}_{-3}$) degrees. From these two quantities, estimations about the rotation of the black hole in LMC X-3 can be derived and the mass distribution of black holes in X-ray binaries can be expanded.