The enigmatic origin of two dormant BH binaries: Gaia BH1 and Gaia BH2

TL;DR

This study investigates the formation and evolution of Gaia BH1 and Gaia BH2, two dormant black hole binaries, exploring their origins through isolated binary evolution and cluster interactions, and analyzing their properties and detectability.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive analysis of the formation channels, rates, and properties of Gaia BH-like binaries, including the effects of natal kicks and binary interactions.

Findings

Formation rate of Gaia BH-like binaries is about 10^-7 per solar mass.

Most Gaia BH1-like binaries form with low natal kick velocities (~40 km/s).

Approximately 900 such binaries are detectable in the Milky Way.

Abstract

The two systems, namely, Gaia~BH1 and Gaia~BH2, that have been confirmed as dormant (i.e., no X-ray emission detected) black hole (BH) - low-mass star binaries in the latest Gaia mission data release (DR3) are intriguing in the context of their formation and evolution. Both systems consist of $\sim9$ $\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ BH and $\sim1$ $\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ star orbiting each other on a wide, eccentric orbit ($e\sim 0.5$). We argue that formation of such Gaia~BH-like systems through the isolated binary evolution (IBE) channel, under the standard common envelope assumptions, and from dynamical interactions in young massive and open clusters are equally probable, and that the formation rate of such binaries is of the order of $10^{-7}$ $\mathrm{M}_{\odot}^{-1}$ for both channels. We estimate that, according to our models, there are at most $\sim900$ detectable Gaia~BH-like binaries in the Milky Way thin disc. What plays an important role in formation of Gaia~BH-like systems via the IBE channel is the mutual position of the natal kick velocity vector and the binary angular momentum vector. We find that natal kicks with a median magnitude of $\sim40$ km/s are preferred for the formation of Gaia~BH1-like binaries. Approximately $94\%$ of those binaries are formed with the BH spin misaligned to the orbital axis by less than $40^{\circ}$. Gaia~BH2-like binaries form if the low velocity natal kick (of median magnitude $\sim20$ km/s) is directed within $15^{\circ}$ about the orbital plane. In addition to natal kick, we also discuss the influence of tidal interaction and the adopted common envelope $\lambda_\mathrm{ce}$~parameter prescription on the evolution of Gaia~BH-like binaries. We follow the subsequent evolution of the binaries, once formed as Gaia~BH1 and Gaia~BH2 systems, to investigate their connection with the low-mass X-ray binary population.