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Title: Find the Gap: Black Hole Population Analysis with an Astrophysically Motivated Mass Function

Journal Article · · The Astrophysical Journal. Letters

We introduce a novel black hole mass function that realistically models the physics of pair-instability supernovae with a minimal number of parameters. Applying this to all events in the LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog 2 (GWTC-2), we detect a peak at MBHMG = 46$$^{+17}_{-6}$$ M. Repeating the analysis without the black holes from the event GW190521, we find this feature at MBHMG =54± 6 M. These results establish the edge of the anticipated "black hole mass gap" at a value compatible with the expectation from standard stellar structure theory. The mass gap manifests itself as a discontinuity in the mass function and is populated by a distinct, less-abundant population of higher-mass black holes. We find that the primary black hole population scales with power-law index -1.95 ± 0.51 (-1.97 ± 0.44) with (without) GW190521, consistent with models of star formation. Using Bayesian techniques, we establish that our mass function fits a new catalog of black hole masses approximately as well as pre-existing phenomenological mass functions. We also remark on the implications of these results for constraining or discovering new phenomena in nuclear and particle physics.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
1824853
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB--21-148-T; IPPP/20/88; arXiv:2104.02685; oai:inspirehep.net:1856364
Journal Information:
The Astrophysical Journal. Letters, Journal Name: The Astrophysical Journal. Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 916; ISSN 2041-8205
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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