PIRSA:21010023 Scientific Series Strong Gravity

DOI10.48660/21010023

Series: Strong Gravity

Fishbach, M. (2021). Minding the Gap: Lessons from LIGO-Virgo’s Biggest Black Holes. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/21010023

Fishbach, Maya. Minding the Gap: Lessons from LIGO-Virgo’s Biggest Black Holes. Perimeter Institute, Jan. 28, 2021, https://pirsa.org/21010023 

@misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:21010023,
  doi = {10.48660/21010023},
  url = {https://pirsa.org/21010023},
  author = {Fishbach, Maya},
  keywords = {Strong Gravity},
  language = {en},
  title = {Minding the Gap: Lessons from LIGO-Virgo{\textquoteright}s Biggest Black Holes},
  publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
  year = {2021},
  month = {jan},
  note = {PIRSA:21010023 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
}

Abstract

Models for black hole formation from stellar evolution predict the existence of a pair-instability supernova mass gap in the range ~50 to ~120 solar masses. The binary black holes of LIGO-Virgo's first two observing runs supported this prediction, showing evidence for a dearth of component black hole masses above 45 solar masses. Meanwhile, among the 30+ new observations from the third observing run, there are several black holes that appear to sit above the 45 solar mass limit. I will discuss how these unexpectedly massive black holes fit into our understanding of the binary black hole population. The data are consistent with several scenarios, including a mass distribution that evolves with redshift and the possibility that the most massive binary black hole, GW190521, straddles the mass gap, containing an intermediate-mass black hole heavier than 120 solar masses.

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