A Systematic Search for Candidate Supermassive Black Hole Binaries Using Periodic Mid-Infrared Light Curves of Active Galactic Nuclei

TL;DR

This study systematically searches for supermassive black hole binary candidates in active galactic nuclei using decade-long mid-infrared light curves from WISE, identifying potential candidates and discussing the challenges of distinguishing true periodicity from stochastic variability.

Contribution

First systematic IR-based search for SMBHB candidates using WISE data, highlighting the difficulties in confirming periodic signals due to stochastic variability.

Findings

28 candidate periodic AGNs identified from WISE data

No overlap with optical periodic sources, indicating selection bias

Potential SMBHB candidates require further observational validation

Abstract

Periodic variability in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is a promising method for studying sub-parsec supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs), which are a challenging detection target. While extensive searches have been made in the optical, X-ray and gamma-ray bands, systematic infrared (IR) studies remain limited. Using data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), which provides unique decade-long mid-IR light curves with a six-month cadence, we have conducted the first systematic search for SMBHB candidates based on IR periodicity. Analyzing a parent sample of 48,932 objects selected from about half a million AGNs, we have identified 28 candidate periodic AGNs with periods ranging from 1,268 to 2,437 days (in the observer frame) by fitting their WISE light curves with sinusoidal functions. However, our mock simulation of the parent sample indicates that stochastic variability can actually produce a similar number of periodic sources, underscoring the difficulty in robustly identifying real periodic signals with WISE light curves, given their current sampling. Notably, we found no overlap between our sample and optical periodic sources, which can be explained by a distinct preference for certain periods due to selection bias. By combining archived data from different surveys, we have identified SDSS J140336.43+174136.1 as a candidate exhibiting periodic behavior in both optical and IR bands, a phenomenon that warrants further validation through observational tests. Our results highlight the potential of IR time-domain surveys, including future missions such as the Nancy Grace-Roman Space Telescope, for identifying periodic AGNs, but complementary tests are still needed to determine their physical origins such as SMBHBs.