Searching for stellar-mass black holes in the Milky Way

Abstract

According to the stellar evolution model, 10 8-10 9 stellar-mass black holes (sMBHs) may exist in the Milky Way. However, only around 20 sMBHs have been dynamically confirmed. With the tremendous advancements in astronomical telescopes, new methods have been proposed to search for sMBHs. A large number of stellar spectra from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) have enabled us to search for sMBHs through spectral analysis. This article reviews the 50-year history of sMBH search and introduces the classical method and some new methods on this issue. In particular, some recent studies based on LAMOST spectra are presented. Moreover, the prospects of sMBH search are discussed. black holes, spectroscopic binaries, X-ray binaries, parallaxes

Comparison of Different Types of Black Holes

“…Compared to isolated black holes, the detection of binary black holes appears to be more complicated. To confirm a black hole in binary star system, a series of prerequisites such as that the black hole companion must be visible in optical or infrared, the matter of black hole companion is absorbed by the black hole, the process of accretion is with strong X-ray emission, and the apparent velocity of black hole companion and the inclined angle of the two orbits of the two stars can be measured by spectrum test must be met [1]. On the contrary, using gravitational lens effect, isolated black holes can be found without such cumbersome process.…”