Collaborative Research: Massive Black Hole Binaries as Multimessenger Sources: The X-ray Counterparts to Gravitational Wave Emission

这个项目将促进我们对巨大的背孔的理解。它的主要焦点是大质量黑洞双星(MBHBs)，由于引力波(GWS)的发射，这些双星激发了合并的趋势。它们的存在是预料之中的，但尚未在观察中得到最终证实。这类双星的发现将使我们能够了解它们的宿主星系，并测试一些基本的物理定律。该项目还将通过对本科生和研究生的教学和研究培训方面的创新，造福社会。这个奖项推进了宇宙之窗的宏大理念的目标。考虑到即将对MBHBs进行多传感器观测，从而鼓舞人心地走向融合，该团队建议将X射线对应物模拟为GW信号。这项工作的主要目标是：(A)为这类观测奠定基础，(B)研究X射线和GW特征之间的相关性，以及(C)使用这两种信使来表征MBHBs的性质。这项工作将导致对与激发大质量黑洞双星有关的依赖时间的光度和光谱X射线特征进行预测。这些预测将有助于指导未来几年的X射线观测战略，从而导致引力波探测。一旦探测到一个令人振奋的双星，它们将被直接测试，使这种观测成为理解现代天体物理学中的关键现象之一的基本要素。这项工作与当前和未来的X射线观测站(XMM-牛顿、钱德拉、XRISM、雅典娜、Lynx、STROBE-X、AXIS等)和引力波观测站有关，如脉冲星定时阵列(PTAS)和激光干涉仪空间天线(LISA)。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will advance our understanding of massive back holes. Its primary focus is on massive black hole binaries (MBHBs) that inspiral toward merger due to the emission of gravitational waves (GWs). Their existence is anticipated but is yet to be definitively confirmed in observations. The discovery of such binaries would allow us to learn about their host galaxies and test some fundamental laws of physics. The project will also benefit society through innovations in teaching and learning and research training of undergraduate and graduate students. This award advances the goals of the Windows on the Universe Big Idea. In anticipation of imminent multimessenger observations of MBHBs inspiraling toward coalescence this team proposes to model the X-ray counterparts to their GW signal. The main goals of this work are: (a) to lay the groundwork for observations of this type, (b) to investigate correlations between the X-ray and GW signatures, and (c) to characterize the properties of MBHBs using both messengers. This work will result in predictions about the time-dependent photometric and spectroscopic X-ray signatures associated with inspiraling massive black hole binaries. These predictions will help guide observational strategy in X-rays in years leading to gravitational wave detections. They will be directly tested once a detection of an inspiraling binary is made, making such observations an essential ingredient in understanding one of the key phenomena in modern astrophysics. This work is relevant for the current and future X-ray observatories (XMM-Newton, Chandra, XRISM, Athena, Lynx, STROBE-X, AXIS and others) and gravitational wave observatories, such as the Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTAs) and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.