Binary black holes at the core of galaxy clusters

Abstract

In this paper, we push forward and exploit an analogy between the morphologies of the X-ray cavities observed in some galaxy clusters, and the optically deficient point-symmetric bubbles occurring in some planetary nebulae (PNe). Point-symmetric PNe are thought to be shaped by stellar binary interactions; namely, the presence of a companion to the PN’s progenitor star is required. We suggest that similar point-symmetric structures in the X-ray cavities of galaxy clusters might be associated with the presence of massive binary black holes. A systematic cataloguing of high-resolution images of the diffuse X-ray emission at the core of galaxy clusters might contribute to individuate massive binary black holes.