Speaker
Prof.
Zoltan Haiman
(Columbia University)
Description
In this talk, I will discuss possible characteristics of
electromagnetic (EM) emission from supermassive black hole (SMBH)
binaries. In particular, any detectable EM emission is likely to be
time-variable, and contain unique spectral signatures, which should
aid identifying SMHB binaries. I will discuss recent hydrodynamical
simulations, which suggest quasiperiodic modulations in the accretion
rate onto the BHs prior to coalescence. These time-variable EM
signatures may be used to identify unique counterparts of
gravitational wave sources expected to be detected by (e)LISA and by
Pulsar Timing Arrays, or to discover binary SMBHs in time-domain EM
surveys. As an example of the latter, the quasar PG1302 was recently
discovered to have a 5-yr periodic optical variability. I will
comment on the interpretation of this quasar as a SMBH binary
candidate and its implications.
Author
Prof.
Zoltan Haiman
(Columbia University)
