HF QPOs Research Articles

Epicyclic Oscillations and Circular Orbits in Hairy Black Holes: Testing by High-Frequency Quasi-Periodic Oscillations Observed in Microquasars

Recently, Ovalle and his collaborators proposed an exact solution to Einstein’s equations. In this study, we investigate the main characteristics of the spherically symmetric spacetime determined by the hair parameter l, with a specific focus on circular orbits, particularly the innermost circular orbits (ISCOs), and the epicyclic oscillatory motion along these orbits. To assess the validity of this novel geometry, we employ the frequencies derived from the epicyclic resonance model of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) observed in microquasars, as well as the ISCOs. By analyzing the observed data from three selected microquasars, we establish constraints on the parameter l. Our findings suggest that this geometric framework can encompass the phenomena associated with HF QPOs and offer a partial explanation for the observed shift in the ISCOs, which is commonly attributed to the rotation of the black hole.

Geodesic Model of HF QPOs Tested for Black Holes in Spacetimes Reflecting the Effect of Surrounding Dark Matter

Using the simple but robust model of a shell of dark matter (DM) around a Schwarzschild black hole (BH), represented by the mass ratio of the shell and BH ΔM/M, the shell extension Δr s and its inner radius r s, we study the influence of DM on the spacetime structure and geodesic motion, and provide a classification of the BH+DM shell spacetimes according to the properties of the stable circular geodesics governing Keplerian disks. We focus our attention on the epicyclic motion around circular geodesics that can be related to observational phenomena in X-ray radiation from Keplerian accretion disks, assumed to be influenced by the DM shell only gravitationally. We give the frequencies of the orbital and epicyclic motions and discuss their properties in terms of the parameters governing the DM shell. Using the frequencies in relevant variants of the standard geodesic model of high-frequency quasiperiodic oscillations (HF QPOs), we test the role of DM by fitting the HF QPO data from some microquasars and active galactic nuclei with supermassive BHs where no variant of the geodesic model applied in the standard vacuum BH background is able to explain the data. We thus provide a robust review of the applicability of the geodesic model of HF QPOs, and also provide limits on the amount of DM around a BH. We demonstrate that the geodesic model could be well applied to most observations of active galactic nuclei, with strong restrictions on the amount of invisible matter around BHs.

Epicyclic orbits in the field of Einstein–Dirac–Maxwell traversable wormholes applied to the quasiperiodic oscillations observed in microquasars and active galactic nuclei

We study the epicyclic oscillatory motion around circular orbits of the traversable asymptotically flat and reflection-symmetric wormholes obtained in the Einstein–Dirac–Maxwell theory without applying exotic matter in their construction. We determine frequencies of the orbital and epicyclic motion in the Keplerian disks having inner edge at the marginally stable circular geodesic of the spacetime. The obtained frequencies are applied in the so-called geodesic models of high-frequency quasiperiodic oscillations (HF QPOs) observed in microquasars and active galactic nuclei containing a supermassive central object. We show that even the simplest epicyclic resonance variant of the geodesic models can explain the HF QPOs observed in many active galactic nuclei for realistic choices of the wormhole parameters, but there are some of the sources where only wormholes with unrealistically large values of the parameters can be sufficient for the explanation. On the other hand, in the case of microquasars, the observed HF QPOs strongly restrict the acceptable values of the wormhole parameters.

Epicyclic Oscillations around Simpson–Visser Regular Black Holes and Wormholes

We study epicyclic oscillatory motion along circular geodesics of the Simpson–Visser meta-geometry describing in a unique way regular black-bounce black holes and reflection-symmetric wormholes by using a length parameter l. We give the frequencies of the orbital and epicyclic motion in a Keplerian disc with inner edge at the innermost circular geodesic located above the black hole outer horizon or on the our side of the wormhole. We use these frequencies in the epicyclic resonance version of the so-called geodesic models of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) observed in microquasars and around supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei to test the ability of this meta-geometry to improve the fitting of HF QPOs observational data from the surrounding of supermassive black holes. We demonstrate that this is really possible for wormholes with sufficiently high length parameter l.

Mass-spin relation of black holes obtained by twin high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations

The paper studies the uniqueness and the monotonicity of the mass-spin relation of black holes (BHs) the X-ray power density spectra of which contain twin high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in 3:2 ratio. Some of the results are valid for a relatively large class of models — the geodesic models, which attribute the observed pair of HF QPOs to the frequencies of epicyclic motion of inhomogeneities in the accretion disk surrounding the black hole, treated as point particles, or to simple linear combinations of them. It is found that for geodesic models the properties of the mass-spin relation are independent of the observed frequencies, i.e. they are independent of the particular object. For concreteness two of the most commonly used geodesic models are studied here – the 3:1 nonlinear epicyclic resonance model and its Keplerian version.

Upper-twin-peak quasiperiodic oscillation in x-ray binaries and the energy from tidal circularization of relativistic orbits

High frequency quasiperiodic oscillations (HF QPOs) detected in the power spectra of low mass x-ray binaries (LMXBs) could unveil the fingerprints of gravitation in strong field regime. Using the energy-momentum relation we calculate the energy a clump of plasma orbiting in the accretion disk releases during circularization of its slightly eccentric relativistic orbit. Following previous works, we highlight the strong tidal force as mechanism to dissipate such energy. We show that tides acting on the clump are able to reproduce the observed coherence of the upper HF QPO seen in LMXBs with a neutron star (NS). The quantity of energy released by the clump and relativistic boosting might give a modulation amplitude in agreement with that observed in the upper HF QPO. Both the amplitude and coherence of the upper HF QPO in NS LMXBs could allow us to disclose, for the first time, the tidal circularization of relativistic orbits occurring around a neutron star.

High-frequency Quasi-periodic Light Variations from Arc-shaped Gas Clouds Falling onto a Black Hole

Abstract We investigate the dynamical and radiative properties of arc-shaped gas clouds falling onto a stellar-mass black hole based on the three-dimensional general relativistic radiation-magnetohydrodynamics (3D-GRRMHD) simulation data. Assuming that the gas clouds radiate mainly due to the free–free emission and/or optically thick, inverse Compton scattering, we calculate how the emissivity distributions develop with time. We find that (1) gas clouds, each of which has a ring-like or arc shape, are intermittently formed, and that (2) they slowly fall onto the black hole, keeping nearly the Keplerian orbital velocity. These features support the dynamical properties of the gas clouds assumed in the spin measurement method proposed by Moriyama & Mineshige, but the radius of the inner edge of the accretion disk is larger than that of the marginally stable orbit (ISCO). Next, we examine how each gas cloud is observed by a distant observer by calculating the photon trajectories in the black hole spacetime. The luminosity of the accretion flow exhibits significant time variations on different timescales, reflecting the time evolution of the gas density distributions. The relatively slow variations on the time durations of 0.08–0.10 s is due to the formation and fall of gas clouds, while quasi-periodic flux peaks with short time intervals (0.01 s) are due to the quasi-periodic enhancement of light from the non-axisymmetric arc-shaped clouds through the beaming effect. This may account for the high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) observed in black hole binaries. The observational implications and future issues are briefly discussed.

Super-spinning compact objects and models of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations observed in Galactic microquasars

In our previous work (Paper I) we applied several models of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) to estimate the spin of the central compact object in three Galactic microquasars assuming the possibility that the central compact body is a super-spinning object (or a naked singularity) with external spacetime described by Kerr geometry with a dimensionless spin parameter $a\equiv cJ/GM^2>1$. Here we extend our consideration, and in a consistent way investigate implications of a set of ten resonance models so far discussed only in the context of $a<1$. The same physical arguments as in Paper I are applied to these models, i.e. only a small deviation of the spin estimate from $a=1$, $a\gtrsim 1$, is assumed for a favoured model. For five of these models that involve Keplerian and radial epicyclic oscillations we find the existence of a unique specific QPO excitation radius. Consequently, there is a simple behaviour of dimensionless frequency $M\times\nu_{U}(a)$ represented by a single continuous function having solely one maximum close to $a\gtrsim1$. Only one of these models is compatible with the expectation of $a\gtrsim 1$. The other five models that involve the radial and vertical epicyclic oscillations imply the existence of multiple resonant radii. This signifies a more complicated behaviour of $M\times\nu_{U}(a)$ that cannot be represented by single functions. Each of these five models is compatible with the expectation of $a\gtrsim 1$.

Quasi-periodic oscillations of perturbed tori

We performed axisymmetric hydrodynamical simulations of oscillating tori orbiting a non-rotating black hole. The tori in equilibrium were constructed with a constant distribution of angular momentum in a pseudo-Newtonian potential (Klu{\'z}niak-Lee). Motions of the torus were triggered by adding sub-sonic velocity fields: radial, vertical and diagonal to the tori in equilibrium. As the perturbed tori evolved in time, we measured $L_{2}$ norm of density and obtained the power spectrum of $L_{2}$ norm which manifested eigenfrequencies of tori modes. The most prominent modes of oscillation excited in the torus by a quasi-random perturbation are the breathing mode and the radial and vertical epicyclic modes. The radial and the plus modes, as well as the vertical and the breathing modes will have frequencies in an approximate 3:2 ratio if the torus is several Schwarzschild radii away from the innermost stable circular orbit. Results of our simulations may be of interest in the context of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) observed in stellar-mass black hole binaries, as well as in supermassive black holes.

Twin peak quasi-periodic oscillations as signature of oscillating cusp torus

Abstract Serious theoretical effort has been devoted to explain the observed frequencies of twin-peak quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) observed in low-mass X-ray neutron star binaries. Here we propose a new model of HF QPOs. Within its framework we consider an oscillating torus with cusp that changes location r0 of its centre around radii very close to innermost stable circular orbit. The observed variability is assigned to global modes of accreted fluid motion that may give strong modulation of both accretion disc radiation and the accretion rate. For a given space–time geometry, the model predicts that QPO frequencies are function of single parameter r0. We illustrate that the model can provide fits of data comparable to those reached by other models, or even better. In particular, it is compared to relativistic precession model. Moreover, we also illustrate that the model consideration is compatible with consideration of models of a rotating neutron star in the atoll source 4U 1636−53.

Twin peak high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations as a spectral imprint of dual oscillation modes of accretion tori

High frequency (millisecond) quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) are observed in the X-ray power-density spectra of several microquasars and low mass X-ray binaries. Two distinct QPO peaks, so-called twin peak QPOs, are often detected simultaneously exhibiting their frequency ratio close or equal to 3/2. Following the analytic theory and previous studies of observable spectral signatures, we aim to model the twin peak QPOs as a spectral imprint of specific dual oscillation regime defined by a combination of the lowest radial and vertical oscillation mode of optically thick slender tori with constant specific angular momentum. We examined power spectra and fluorescent K$\alpha$ iron line profiles for two different simulation setups with the mode frequency relations corresponding to the epicyclic resonance HF QPOs model and modified relativistic precession QPOs model. We use relativistic ray-tracing implemented in parallel simulation code LSDplus. In the background of the Kerr spacetime geometry, we analyze the influence of the distant observer inclination and the spin of the central compact object. Relativistic optical projection of the oscillating slender torus is illustrated by images in false colours related to the frequency shift. We show that performed simulations yield power spectra with the pair of dominant peaks corresponding to the frequencies of radial and vertical oscillation modes with the proper ratio equal to 3/2 on a wide range of inclinations and spin values. We also discuss exceptional cases of a very small and very high inclination as well as unstable high spin relativistic precession-like configuration predicting constant frequency ratio equal to 1/2. We demonstrate signifiant dependency of broadened K$\alpha$ iron line profiles on the inclination of the distant observer.

Mass of intermediate black hole in the source M82 X-1 restricted by models of twin high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations

We apply the relativistic precession (RP) model with its variants and the resonance epicyclic model with its variants, based on the frequencies of the geodesic epicyclic motion in the field of a Kerr black hole, to put limits on the mass of the black hole in the ultraluminous X-ray source M82 X-1 demonstrating twin high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) with the frequency ratio near 3:2. The mass limits implied by the geodesic HF QPO models are compared to those obtained due to the model of string loop oscillations around a stable equilibrium position. Assuming the whole range of the black hole dimensionless spin, 0 < a < 1, the restrictions on the black hole mass related to the twin HF QPOs are widely extended and strongly model dependent; nevertheless, they give the lower limit M_{M82 X-1} > 130 M_{sun} confirming existence of an intermediate black hole in the M82 X-1 source. The upper limit given by one of the variants of the geodesic twin HF QPO models goes up to M_{M82 X-1}<1500 M_{sun}. The range 37-210 mHz of the low-frequency QPOs observed in the M82 X-1 source introduces additional restrictive limits on the black hole mass, if we model the low-frequency QPOs by nodal precession of the epicyclic motion. The nodal precession model restrictions combined with those implied by the geodesic models of the twin HF QPOs give allowed ranges of the M82 X-1 black hole parameters, namely 140 M_{sun}<M_{M82 X-1}<660 M_{sun} for the mass parameter and 0.05<a_{M82 X-1}<0.6 for the spin parameter.

Black hole spin inferred from 3:2 epicyclic resonance model of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations

Estimations of black hole spin in the three Galactic microquasars GRS 1915+105, GRO J1655-40, and XTE J1550-564 have been carried out based on spectral and timing X-ray measurements and various theoretical concepts. Among others, a non-linear resonance between axisymmetric epicyclic oscillation modes of an accretion disc around a Kerr black hole has been considered as a model for the observed high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs). Estimates of spin predicted by this model have been derived based on the geodesic approximation of the accreted fluid motion. Here we assume accretion flow described by the model of a pressure-supported torus and carry out related corrections to the mass-spin estimates. We find that for dimensionless black hole spin a<0.9, the resonant eigenfrequencies are very close to those calculated for the geodesic motion. Their values slightly grow with increasing torus thickness. These findings agree well with results of a previous study carried out in the pseudo-Newtonian approximation. The situation becomes different for a>0.9, in which case the resonant eigenfrequencies rapidly decrease as the torus thickness increases. We conclude that the assumed non-geodesic effects shift the lower limit of the spin, implied for the three microquasars by the epicyclic model and independently measured masses, from a~0.7 to a~0.6. Their consideration furthermore confirms compatibility of the model with the rapid spin of GRS 1915+105 and provides highly testable predictions of the QPO frequencies. Individual sources with a moderate spin (a<0.9) should exhibit a smaller spread of the measured 3:2 QPO frequencies than sources with a near-extreme spin (a~1). This should be further examined using the large amount of high-resolution data expected to become available with the next generation of X-ray instruments, such as the proposed Large Observatory for X-ray Timing (LOFT).

Evidences of an innermost stable bound orbit predicted by general relativity from the amplitude of the twin-peak quasiperiodic oscillations

The twin-peak high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs), observed in the power spectra of low-mass X-ray binaries, might carry relevant clues about the physics laws reigning close to a compact object. Their frequencies are typical of the orbital motion time-scales a few gravitational radii away from the compact object. The aim of the manuscript is to propose an intuitive model explaining that the energy carried by the lower HF QPO can be related to differences of potential energy released by clumps of plasma spiraling in a curved space-time. Our model provides estimates on both the size of clumps of matter that can survive to the strong tidal force and energy loaded by tides on the clump. We also have obtained some constraints on the mechanical properties of the plasma orbiting into the accretion disk. We note that the systematic behavior of the emitted energy as function of the central frequency of the lower HF QPO, observed in several sources with a neutron star, might give clues related to an innermost stable bound orbit predicted by the General Relativity theory in strong field regime.

Test of the string loop oscillation model using kHz quasiperiodic oscillations in a neutron star binary

The model of current-carrying string loop oscillations is tested to explain the special set of frequencies related to the high-frequency quasiperiodic oscillations (HF QPOs) observed recently in the low-mass X-ray binary XTE J1701-407 containing a neutron star. The external geometry of the neutron star is approximated by the Kerr geometry, introducing errors not exceeding $10~\%$ for slowly rotating massive neutron stars. The frequencies of the radial and vertical string loop oscillations are then governed by the mass $M$ and dimensionless spin $a$ of the neutron star, and by the dimensionless parameter $\omega$ describing combined effects of the string loop tension and its angular momentum. It is explicitly demonstrated that the string-loop oscillation model can explain the observed kHz frequencies for the neutron star parameters restricted to the intervals ${0.2<a<0.4}$ and ${2.1<M/{\rm M}_{\odot}<2.5}$. However, the stringy parameter $\omega$ cannot be the same for all the three HF QPO observations in the XTE J1701-407 source; the limits on the acceptable values of $\omega$ are given in dependence on the spacetime parameters $M$ and $a$.

Super-spinning compact objects and models of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations observed in Galactic microquasars

We have previously applied several models of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) to estimate the spin of the central Kerr black hole in the three Galactic microquasars, GRS 1915+105, GRO J1655-40, and XTE J1550-564. Here we explore the alternative possibility that the central compact body is a super-spinning object (or a naked singularity) with the external space-time described by Kerr geometry with a dimensionless spin parameter a = cJ/GM2 > 1.We calculate the relevant spin intervals for a subset of HF QPO models considered in the previous study. Our analysis indicates that for all but one of the considered models there exists at least one interval of a > 1 that is compatible with constraints given by the ranges of the central compact object mass independently estimated for the three sources. For most of the models, the inferred values of a are several times higher than the extreme Kerr black hole value a = 1. These values may be too high since the spin of superspinars is often assumed to rapidly decrease due to accretion when a >> 1. In this context, we conclude that only the epicyclic and the Keplerian resonance model provides estimates that are compatible with the expectation of just a small deviation from a = 1.

RESONANT SWITCH MODEL OF HF QPOS AND EQUATIONS OF STATE OF NEUTRON STARS AND QUARK STARS

The mass and spin estimates of the 4U 1636−53 neutron star obtained by the Resonant Switch (RS) model of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) are tested by a large variety of equations of state (EoS) governing the structure of neutron stars. Neutron star models are constructed under the Hartle–Thorne theory of slowly rotating neutron stars calculated using the observationally given rotational frequency&lt;em&gt; f&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sub&gt;rot&lt;/sub&gt; = 580 Hz (or alternatively &lt;em&gt;f&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sub&gt;rot&lt;/sub&gt; = 290 Hz) of the neutron star at 4U 1636−53. It is demonstrated that only two variants of the RS model are compatible with the parameters obtained by modelling neutron stars for the rotational frequency &lt;em&gt;f&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sub&gt;rot&lt;/sub&gt; = 580 Hz. The variant giving the best fit with parameters M ~ 2.20M&lt;sub&gt;ʘ&lt;/sub&gt; and &lt;em&gt;a&lt;/em&gt; ~ 0.27 agrees with high precision with the prediction of one of the Skyrme EoS [1]. The variant giving the second best fit with parameters M ~ 2.12M&lt;sub&gt;ʘ&lt;/sub&gt; and &lt;em&gt;a&lt;/em&gt; ~ 0.20 agrees with lower precision with the prediction of the Gandolfi EoS [2].

Simulations of flux variability of oscillating accretion fluid tori around Kerr black holes

AbstractHigh frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) are observed in the X-ray power-density spectra (PDS) of several microquasars and low mass X-ray binaries. Many proposed QPO models are based on oscillations of accretion toroidal fluid structures orbiting in the vicinity of a compact object. We study oscillating accretion tori orbiting in the vicinity of a Kerr black hole. We demonstrate that significant variation of the observed flux can be caused by the combination of radial and vertical oscillation modes of a slender, polytropic, perfect fluid, non-self-graviting torus with constant specific angular momentum. We investigate two combinations of the oscillating modes corresponding to the direct resonance QPO model and the modified relativistic precession QPO model.

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN SPOT AND TORUS MODELS OF HIGH-FREQUENCY QUASIPERIODIC OSCILLATIONS

In the context of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation (HF QPOs) we further explore the appearance of an observable signal generated by hot spots moving along quasi-elliptic trajectories close to the innermost stable circular orbit in the Schwarzschild spacetime. The aim of our investigation is to reveal whether observable characteristics of the Fourier power-spectral density can help us to distinguish between the two competing models, namely, the idea of bright spots orbiting on the surface of an accretion torus versus the scenario of intrinsic oscillations of the torus itself. We take the capabilities of the present observatories (represented by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, RXTE) into account, and we also consider the proposed future instruments (represented here by the Large Observatory for X-ray Timing, LOFT).

String loops oscillating in the field of Kerr black holes as a possible explanation of twin high-frequency quasiperiodic oscillations observed in microquasars

Small oscillations of current-carrying string loops around stable equilibrium positions corresponding to minima of the effective potential in the equatorial plane of the Kerr black holes are studied using the perturbation method. In the lowest approximation, two uncoupled harmonic oscillators are obtained that govern the radial and vertical oscillations; the higher-order terms determine non-linear phenomena and transition to chaotic motion through quasi-periodic stages of the oscillatory motion. The radial profiles of frequencies of the radial and vertical harmonic oscillations that are relevant also in the quasi-periodic stages of the oscillatory motion are given, and their properties in dependence on the spin of the black holes and the angular momentum and tension of the string loops are determined. It is shown that the radial profiles differ substantially from those corresponding to the radial and vertical frequencies of the geodetical epicyclic motion; however, they have the same mass-scaling and their magnitude is of the same order. Therefore, we are able to demonstrate that assuming relevance of resonant phenomena of the radial and vertical string-loop oscillations at their frequency ratio 3:2, the oscillatory frequencies of string loops can be well related to the frequencies of the twin high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) observed in the microquasars GRS 1915+105, XTE 1550-564, GRO 1655-40. We can conclude that oscillating current-carrying string loops have to be considered as one of the possible explanations of the HF QPOs occurring in the field of compact objects.