Bibcode
Valtonen, M. J.; Mikkola, S.; Lehto, H. J.; Gopakumar, A.; Hudec, R.; Polednikova, J.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 742, Issue 1, article id. 22 (2011).
Advertised on:
11
2011
Journal
Citations
36
Refereed citations
26
Description
We examine the ability to test the black hole no-hair theorem at the 10%
level in this decade using the binary black hole in OJ287. In the test
we constrain the value of the dimensionless parameter q that relates the
scaled quadrupole moment and spin of the primary black hole: q
2 = -q χ2. At the present we can say
that q = 1 ± 0.3 (1σ), in agreement with general relativity
and the no-hair theorems. We demonstrate that this result can be
improved if more observational data are found in historical plate
archives for the 1959 and 1971 outbursts. We also show that the
predicted 2015 and 2019 outbursts will be crucial in improving the
accuracy of the test. Space-based photometry is required in 2019 July
due the proximity of OJ287 to the Sun at the time of the outburst. The
best situation would be to carry out the photometry far from the Earth,
from quite a different vantage point, in order to avoid the influence of
the nearby Sun. We have considered in particular the STEREO space
mission, which would be ideal if it has a continuation in 2019, or the
Long Range Reconnaissance Imager on board the New Horizons mission to
Pluto.