arXiv subjects

Ruth A. Daly

Publications and source records attributed to Ruth A. Daly.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The Spin Angular Momentum and Black Hole Mass Components of Sagittarius A*

The dimensionless spin angular momentum, dimensionless spin function, and blackhole mass components of Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) were obtained by Daly et al. (2024) by applying the outflow method to six independent sets of simultaneously or contemporaneously obtained X-ray and radio data. Here, results obtained for Sgr A* with the outflow method are reviewed. Consistent results were obtained with each data set. Set I (the preferred data set) indicates that Sgr A* has a dimensionless spin angular momentum $a_* = (0.90 ~\pm~ 0.06)$ and a dimensionless spin function $F = (0.62 ~\pm~ 0.10)$. The results are consistent with the value of $a_* = (0.93~\pm~ 0.15)$ obtained with the outflow method applied to an independent data set (Daly 2019). The application of the outflow method to a weak compact radio source such as Sgr A* in its current state is most accurately determined with simultaneous or contemporaneous radio and X-ray measurements.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Powerful Radio Sources as Probes of Black Hole Physics

Powerful jetted radio sources for which the luminosity in directed kinetic energy has been empirically determined, independent of assumptions, are considered. The total outflow lifetime of each source determined in the context of detailed cosmological studies was found to depend only upon the luminosity in directed kinetic energy ($L$). The distributions of $L$, total outflow lifetime, and total outflow energy each have a broad range of values, as do the supermassive black hole masses. The total outflow energy relative to the black hole mass is a small number with a small dispersion. Three explanations of these remarkable results are considered. This could indicate (1) the efficiencies with which black hole irreducible mass is increased and spin mass energy is extracted during the outflow event, (2) that the merger of two supermassive black holes occurs over a timescale commensurate with the independently determined outflow lifetime and that these mergers lead to the production of the low-frequency gravitational wave background, or (3) that feedback shuts off black hole accretion due to energy injected into the ambient medium.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

New Black Hole Spin Values for Sagittarius A* Obtained with the Outflow Method

Six archival Chandra observations are matched with eight sets of radio data and studied in the context of the outflow method to measure and study the spin properties of $\rm{Sgr ~A^*}$. Three radio and X-ray data sets obtained simultaneously, or partially simultaneously, are identified as preferred for the purpose of measuring the spin properties of $\rm{Sgr ~A^*}$. Similar results are obtained with other data sets. Results obtained with the preferred data sets are combined and indicate a weighted mean value of the spin function of $\rm{F} = 0.62 \pm 0.10$ and dimensionless spin angular momentum of $\rm{a_*} = 0.90 \pm 0.06$. The spin function translates into measurements of the black hole rotational mass, $\rm{M_{rot}}$, irreducible mass, $\rm{M_{irr}}$, and spin mass-energy available for extraction, $\rm{M_{spin}}$, relative to the total black hole dynamical mass, $\rm{M_{dyn}}$. Weighted mean values of $\rm{(M_{rot}/M_{dyn}) = (0.53 \pm 0.06)}$, $\rm{({M_{irr}/M_{dyn})} = (0.85 \pm 0.04)}$, $\rm{({M_{spin}/M_{dyn})} = (0.15 \pm 0.04)}$, $\rm{M_{rot} = (2.2 \pm 0.3) \times 10^6 ~M_{\odot}}$, $\rm{M_{irr} = (3.5 \pm 0.2) \times 10^6 ~M_{\odot}}$, and $\rm{M_{spin} = (6.2 \pm 1.6) \times 10^5 ~M_{\odot}}$ are obtained; of course $\rm{{(M_{rot}/M_{irr})} = (0.62 \pm 0.10)}$ since $\rm{{(M_{rot}/M_{irr})} = F}$. Values obtained for $\rm{Sgr ~A^*}$ are compared with those obtained for M87 based on the published spin function which indicate that M87 carries substantially more rotational energy and spin mass-energy relative to the total (i.e., dynamical) black hole mass, the irreducible black hole mass, and in absolute terms.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

Robust Supermassive Black Hole Spin Mass-Energy Characteristics: A New Method and Results

The rotational properties of astrophysical black holes are fundamental quantities that characterization the black holes. A new method to empirically determine the spin mass-energy characteristics of astrophysical black holes is presented and applied here. Results are obtained for a sample of 100 supermassive black holes with collimated dual outflows and redshifts between about zero and two. An analysis indicates that about two-thirds of the black holes are maximally spinning, while one-third have a broad distribution of spin values; it is shown that the same distributions describe the quantity $\rm{(M_{rot}/M_{irr})}$. The new method is applied to obtain the black hole spin mass-energy, $\rm{M_{spin}}$, available for extraction relative to: the maximum possible value, the irreducible black hole mass, and the total black hole mass, $\rm{M_{dyn}}$. The total energy removed from the black hole system and deposited into the circumgalactic medium via dual outflows over the entire outflow lifetime of the source, $\rm{E_T}$, is studied relative to $\rm{M_{dyn}}$ and relative to the spin energy available per black hole, $\rm{E_{spin}/(M_{\odot}c^2)}$. The mean value of $\rm{Log(E_T/M_{dyn})}$ is about $(-2.47\pm 0.27)$. Several explanations of this and related results are discussed. For example, the energy input to the ambient gas from the outflow could turn off the accretion, or the impact of the black hole mass loss on the system could destabilize and terminate the outflow. The small values and restricted range of values of $\rm{Log(E_T/M_{dyn})}$ and $\rm{Log(E_T/E_{spin})}$ could suggest that these are fundamental properties of the primary process responsible for producing the dual collimated outflows.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Black Hole Mass Accretion Rates and Efficiency Factors for over 750 AGN and Multiple GBH

Mass accretion rates in dimensionless and physical units, and efficiency factors describing the total radiant luminosity of the disk and the beam power of the outflow are studied here. Four samples of sources including 576 LINERs, 100 classical double (FRII) radio sources, 80 relatively local AGN, and 103 measurements of four stellar mass X-ray binary systems, referred to as Galactic Black Holes (GBH), are included in the study. All of the sources have highly collimated outflows leading to compact radio emission or powerful extended (FRII) radio emission. The properties of each of the full samples are explored, as are those of the four individual GBH, and sub-types of the FRII and local AGN samples. Source types and sub-types that have high, medium, and low values of accretion rates and efficiency factors are identified and studied. A new efficiency factor that describes the relative impact of black hole spin and mass accretion rate on the beam power is defined and studied, and is found to provide a new and interesting diagnostic. Mass accretion rates for 13 sources and efficiency factors for 6 sources are compared with values obtained independently, and indicate that similar values are obtained with independent methods. The mass accretion rates and efficiency factors obtained here substantially increase the number of values available, and improve our understanding of their relationship to source types. The redshift dependence of quantities is presented and the impact on the results is discussed.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Black Hole Spin Energy Contribution to Black Hole Mass and the Spin Energy Reservoir

The mass of a black hole is the sum of the irreducible mass and the mass associated with the rotational or spin energy of the black hole. The contribution of spin energy (divided by $c^2$) to the total black hole mass is studied here for four samples of sources including 576 LINERs, 100 classical double radio sources, 80 relatively local AGN, and 102 measurements of four stellar mass X-ray binary systems. The spin mass-energy of a black hole may be extracted causing the mass of the black hole to decrease. The ratio of spin mass-energy to black hole mass ranges from about ten to thirty percent for the sources studied here, where the maximum possible value of this quantity is close to thirty percent. Typical fractions of the black hole mass available for extraction for the samples studied are about $0.2 \pm 0.1$. The spin energy of black holes represents a major reservoir that when tapped may impact the immediate and extended black hole environment, decrease the black hole mass, and perhaps modify relationships between black hole mass and galaxy properties. These results are consistent with expectations based on other observations and numerical simulations.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Black Hole Spin and Accretion Disk Magnetic Field Strength Estimates for more than 750 AGN and Multiple GBH

Black hole systems, comprised of a black hole, accretion disk, and collimated outflow are studied here. Three AGN samples including 753 AGN, and 102 measurements of 4 GBH are studied. Applying the theoretical considerations described by Daly (2016), general expressions for the black hole spin function and accretion disk magnetic field strength are presented and applied to obtain the black hole spin function, spin, and accretion disk magnetic field strength in dimensionless and physical units for each source. Relatively high spin values are obtained; spin functions indicate typical spin values of about (0.6 - 1) for the sources. The distribution of accretion disk magnetic field strengths for the three AGN samples are quite broad and have mean values of about $10^4$ G, while those for individual GBH have mean values of about $10^8$ G. Good agreement is found between spin values obtained here and published values obtained with well-established methods; comparisons for 1 GBH and 6 AGN indicate that similar spin values are obtained with independent methods. Black hole spin and disk magnetic field strength demographics are obtained and indicate that black hole spin functions and spins are similar for all of the source types studied including GBH and different categories of AGN. The method applied here does not depend upon any specific accretion disk emission model, and does not depend upon a specific model that relates jet beam power to compact radio luminosity, hence the results obtained here can be used to constrain and study these models.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Spin Properties of Supermassive Black Holes with Powerful Outflows

Relationships between beam power and accretion disk luminosity are studied for a sample of 55 HERG, 13 LERG, and 29 RLQ with powerful outflows. The ratio of beam power to disk luminosity tends to be high for LERG, low for RLQ, and spans the full range of values for HERG. Writing general expressions for the disk luminosity and beam power and applying the empirically determined relationships allows a function that parameterizes the spins of the holes to be estimated. Interestingly, one of the solutions that is consistent with the data has a functional form that is remarkably similar to that expected in the generalized Blandford-Znajek model with a magnetic field that is similar in form to that expected in MAD and ADAF models. Values of the spin function, obtained independent of specific outflow models, suggest that spin and AGN type are not related for these types of sources. The spin function can be used to solve for black hole spin in the context of particular outflow models, and one example is provided.

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arXiv2013

Black Hole Spin Properties of 130 AGN

Supermassive black holes may be described by their mass and spin. When supermassive black holes are active, the activity provides a probe of the state of the black hole system. The spin of a hole can be estimated when the black hole mass and beam power of the source are known for sources with powerful outflows. Seventy-five sources for which both the black hole mass and beam power could be obtained are identified and used to obtain estimates of black hole spins. The 75 supermassive black holes studied include 52 FRII radio galaxies and 23 FRII radio loud quasars with redshifts ranging from about zero to two. The new values are combined with those obtained previously for 19 FRII radio galaxies, 7 FRII radio loud quasars, and 29 radio sources associated with CD galaxies to form samples of 71 FRII radio galaxies, 30 FRII quasars, and a total sample of 130 spin values; all of the sources are associated with massive elliptical galaxies. The new values obtained are similar to those obtained earlier at similar redshift, and range from about 0.1 to 1 for FRII sources. The overall results are consistent with those obtained previously: the spins tend to decrease with decreasing redshift for the FRII sources studied. There is a hint that the range of values of black hole spin at a given redshift is larger for FRII quasars than for FRII radio galaxies. There is no indication of a strong correlation between supermassive black hole mass and spin for the supermassive black holes studied here. The relation between beam power and black hole mass is obtained and used as a diagnostic of the outflows and the dependence of the magnetic field strength on black hole mass.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

The Relationship Between Beam Power and Radio Power for Classical Double Radio Sources

Beam power is a fundamental parameter that describes, in part, the state of a supermassive black hole system. Determining the beam powers of powerful classical double radio sources requires substantial observing time, so it would be useful to determine the relationship between beam power and radio power so that radio power could be used as a proxy for beam power. A sample of 31 powerful classical double radio sources with previously determined beam and radio powers are studied; the sources have redshifts between about 0.056 and 1.8. It is found that the relationship between beam power, Lj, and radio power, P, is well described by Log(Lj) = 0.84 Log(P) + 2.15, where both L_j and P are in units of 10^(44) erg/s. This indicates that beam power is converted to radio power with an efficiency of about 0.7%. The ratio of beam power to radio power is studied as a function of redshift; there is no significant evidence for redshift evolution of this ratio over the redshift range studied. The relationship is consistent with empirical results obtained by Cavagnolo et al. (2010) for radio sources in gas rich environments, which are primarily FRI sources, and with the theoretical predictions of Willott et al. (1999).

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Estimates of Black Hole Spin Properties of 55 Sources

Studies of black hole spin and other parameters as a function of redshift provide information about the physical state and merger and accretion histories of the systems. One way that black hole spin may be estimated is through observations of extended radio sources. These sources, powered by outflows from an AGN, allow the beam power and total outflow energy to be studied. In a broad class of models, the beam power of the outflow is related to the spin of the black hole. This relationship is used to estimate black hole spins for 55 radio sources. The samples studied include 7 FRII quasars and 19 FRII radio galaxies with redshifts between 0.056 and 1.79, and 29 radio sources associated with CD galaxies with redshifts between 0.0035 and 0.291. The FRII sources studied have estimated spin values of between about 0.2 and 1; there is a range of values at a given redshift, and the values tend to increase with increasing redshift. Results obtained for FRII quasars are very similar to those obtained for FRII galaxies. A broader range of spin values are obtained for the sample of radio sources associated with CD galaxies studied. The fraction of the spin energy extracted per outflow event is estimated and ranges from about 0.03 to 0.5 for FRII sources and 0.002 to about 1 for radio sources associated with CD galaxies; the data are consistent with this fraction being independent of redshift though the uncertainties are large. The results obtained are consistent with those predicted by numerical simulations that track the merger and accretion history of AGN, supporting the idea that, for AGN with powerful large-scale outflows, beam power is directly related to black hole spin.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

A Detailed Study of the Lobes of Eleven Powerful Radio Galaxies

Radio lobes of a sample of eleven very powerful classical double radio galaxies were studied. Each source was rotated so that the symmetry axis of the source was horizontal, and vertical cross-sectional cuts were taken across the source at intervals of one beam size. These were used to study the cross-sectional surface brightness profiles, the width of each slice, radio emissivity as a function of position across each slice, the first and second moments, and the average surface brightness, minimum energy magnetic field strength, and pressure of each slice. A Gaussian provides a good description of the surface brightness profile of cross-sectional slices. The Gaussian FWHM as a function of distance from the hot spot first increases and then decreases with distance from the hot spot. The width as a function of distance from the hot spot is highly symmetric on each side of the source. The radio emissivity is often close to flat across a slice, indicating a roughly constant emissivity and pressure for that slice. Some slices show variations in radio emissivity that indicate an ``edge-peaked'' pressure profile for that slice; these often occur in slices near the local maxima of the bridge width. The emissivity does not exhibit any signature of emission from a jet. The first moment is generally quite close to zero indicating only small excursions of the ridge line from the symmetry axis of the source. The second moment indicates the same source shape as is found using the Gaussian FWHM. The average magnetic field strength and pressure decrease with increasing distance from the hot spot, reaching a roughly constant value at a location that is typically just before the location of a local maximum of the bridge width. These results are interpreted in terms of a heuristic model for the radio lobes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Bounds on Black Hole Spins

Beam powers and black hole masses of 48 extended radio sources are combined to obtain lower bounds on the spins and magnetic field strengths of supermassive black holes. This is done in the context of the models of Blandford & Znajek (1977) (the 'BZ' model) and Meier (1999); a parameterization for bounds in the context of other models is suggested. The bounds obtained for very powerful classical double radio sources in the BZ model are consistent with black hole spins of order unity for sources at high redshift. The black hole spins are largest for the highest redshift sources and decrease for sources at lower redshift; the sources studied have redshifts between zero and two. Lower power radio sources associated with central dominant galaxies may have black hole spins that are significantly less than one. Combining this analysis with other results suggests that the maximum values of black hole spin associated with powerful radio galaxies decline from values of order unity at a redshift of 2 to values of order 0.7 at a redshift of zero, while lower power radio sources have spin values that range from about 0.1 to 0.8. These black hole spin values decrease if the data are considered in the context of the Meier model rather than the BZ model.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

A Decade of Dark Energy: 1998 - 2008

The years 1998 to 2008 were very exciting years for cosmology. It was a pleasure to accept this invitation to describe my contributions to the development of our knowledge and understanding of the universe over the course of the past decade. Here, I begin by describing some of my work on radio galaxies as a modified standard yardstick and go on to describe model-independent studies of the accelerating universe and the properties of the dark energy. During the course of these studies, I came upon interesting ways to study the spin and other properties of supermassive black holes, some of which are briefly mentioned.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Black Hole Spins of Radio Sources

A new approach to constraining or determining the spin of a massive black hole is proposed. A key parameter in the analysis is the dimensionless ratio, r, of the energy released to the mass of the hole. It is shown that the black hole spin, j, may be written as a function of the dimensionless ratio of the black hole spin energy to the black hole mass. When extraction of the black hole spin energy powers an outflow from the hole, the ratio r provides an indication of the black hole spin. The method is applied to a sample of 19 very powerful classical double radio galaxies with a range of size and redshift. The sources are found to have remarkably similar values of r and j, implying that the sources have very similar physical conditions at the time the outflow is generated. A sample of 29 central dominant galaxies is also studied; most of these sources have amorphous or FRI radio structure. The sources have a broad range of ratios r, and correspondingly broad range of black hole spins. The broad range probably results from the fact that each source is observed at a different stage in its lifetime. The intrinsic range of parameters could be as tight as it is for the powerful classical double radio galaxies.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Cosmological Studies with Radio Galaxies and Supernovae

Physical sizes of extended radio galaxies can be employed as a cosmological "standard ruler", using a previously developed method. Eleven new radio galaxies are added to our previous sample of nineteen sources, forming a sample of thirty objects with redshifts between 0 and 1.8. This sample of radio galaxies are used to obtain the best fit cosmological parameters in a quintessence model in a spatially flat universe, a cosmological constant model that allows for non-zero space curvature, and a rolling scalar field model in a spatially flat universe. Results obtained with radio galaxies are compared with those obtained with different supernova samples, and with combined radio galaxy and supernova samples. Results obtained with different samples are consistent, suggesting that neither method is seriously affected by systematic errors. Best fit radio galaxy and supernovae model parameters determined in the different cosmological models are nearly identical, and are used to determine dimensionless coordinate distances to supernovae and radio galaxies, and distance moduli to the radio galaxies. The distance moduli to the radio galaxies can be combined with supernovae samples to increase the number of sources, particularly high-redshift sources, in the samples. The constraints obtained here with the combined radio galaxy plus supernovae data set in the rolling scalar field model are quite strong. The best fit parameter values suggest a value of omega is less than about 0.35, and the model parameter alpha is close to zero; that is, a cosmological constant provides a good description of the data. We also obtain new constraints on the physics of engines that power the large-scale radio emission.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Physical Properties of Very Powerful FRII Radio Galaxies

We estimate ages and physical properties of powerful radio galaxies. An analysis of new multi-wavelength VLA observations of eleven very powerful classical double (FRIIb) radio galaxies with redshifts between 0.4 and 1.3 is presented. We estimate ages and velocities for each side of each source. The eleven new sources are combined with previously studied samples and the characteristics of the full sample of 31 sources are studied; the full sample includes sources with redshifts between 0.056 and 1.79, and core-hot spot sizes of about 30 to 400 kpc. The velocities are independent of core-hotspot separation, suggesting the rate of growth of a given source is roughly constant over the source lifetime. We combine the rate of growth, width, and pressure of a source to study the beam power, lifetime, energy, and ambient gas density using standard methods previously applied to smaller samples. Typical beam powers are in the range from 1E44 to 1E46 erg/s; we show that this quantity is insensitive to assumptions regarding minimum energy conditions. The beam powers are independent of core-hotspot separation suggesting that the beam power of a given source is roughly constant over the source lifetime. Typical total source lifetimes are found to be about a few E6 to E7 years, and typical total outflow energies (E/c^2) are found to be about 5(E5 - E6) solar masses. Ambient gas densities are found to decrease with increasing core-hotspot distance, but have no redshift dependence. Overall, the results obtained with the sample of 31 sources studied here are consistent with those obtained earlier with smaller samples.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The Acceleration History of the Universe and the Properties of the Dark Energy

The model-independent method of using type Ia supernovae proposed and developed by Daly and Djorgovski (2003, 2004) has been applied to the Riess et al. (2007) supernovae sample. Assuming only a Robertson-Walker metric, we find that the universe is accelerating today. This result is purely kinematic, is independent of the contents of the universe, and does not require that a theory of gravity be specified. Our model-independent method allows a determination of q(z) for a particular value of space curvature. When q(z) transitions from negative to positive values, the universe transitions from an accelerating to a decelerating state. For zero space curvature, we find that the universe transitions from acceleration to deceleration at a zedshift of about = 0.35 for the Riess et al. (2007) sample. If a theory of gravity is specified, the supernovae data can be used to determine the pressure, energy density, and equation of state of the dark energy, and the potential and kinetic energy density of a dark energy scalar field as functions of redshift. The relevant equations from General Relativity are applied, and these functions are obtained. The results are consistent with predictions in the standard Lambda Cold Dark Matter model at about the two sigma level.

astro-ph↗