Gravitational-wave limits from pulsar timing constrain supermassive black hole evolution

R. M. Shannon; V. Ravi; W. A. Coles; G. Hobbs; M. J. Keith; R. N. Manchester; J. S.B. Wyithe; M. Bailes; N. D.R. Bhat; S. Burke-Spolaor; J. Khoo; Y. Levin; S. Osłowski; J. M. Sarkissian; W. Van Straten; J. P.W. Verbiest; J. B. Wang

doi:10.1126/science.1238012

Gravitational-wave limits from pulsar timing constrain supermassive black hole evolution

R. M. Shannon^*, V. Ravi, W. A. Coles, G. Hobbs, M. J. Keith, R. N. Manchester, J. S.B. Wyithe, M. Bailes, N. D.R. Bhat, S. Burke-Spolaor, J. Khoo, Y. Levin, S. Osłowski, J. M. Sarkissian, W. Van Straten, J. P.W. Verbiest, J. B. Wang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

139 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The formation and growth processes of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are not well constrained. SMBH population models, however, provide specific predictions for the properties of the gravitational-wave background (GWB) from binary SMBHs in merging galaxies throughout the universe. Using observations from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array, we constrain the fractional GWB energy density (Ω_GW) with 95% confidence to be Ω _GW(H₀/73 kilometers per second per megaparsec)² < 1.3 x 10^-9 (where H₀ is the Hubble constant) at a frequency of 2.8 nanohertz, which is approximately a factor of 6 more stringent than previous limits. We compare our limit to models of the SMBH population and find inconsistencies at confidence levels between 46 and 91%. For example, the standard galaxy formation model implemented in the Millennium Simulation Project is inconsistent with our limit with 50% probability.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	334-337
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	342
Issue number	6156
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1238012
Publication status	Published - 18 Oct 2013
Externally published	Yes

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Shannon, R. M., Ravi, V., Coles, W. A., Hobbs, G., Keith, M. J., Manchester, R. N., Wyithe, J. S. B., Bailes, M., Bhat, N. D. R., Burke-Spolaor, S., Khoo, J., Levin, Y., Osłowski, S., Sarkissian, J. M., Van Straten, W., Verbiest, J. P. W., & Wang, J. B. (2013). Gravitational-wave limits from pulsar timing constrain supermassive black hole evolution. Science, 342(6156), 334-337. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1238012

@article{cccc3649a6984c0cb8484e45a77756ca,

title = "Gravitational-wave limits from pulsar timing constrain supermassive black hole evolution",

abstract = "The formation and growth processes of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are not well constrained. SMBH population models, however, provide specific predictions for the properties of the gravitational-wave background (GWB) from binary SMBHs in merging galaxies throughout the universe. Using observations from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array, we constrain the fractional GWB energy density (ΩGW) with 95\% confidence to be Ω GW(H0/73 kilometers per second per megaparsec)2 < 1.3 x 10-9 (where H0 is the Hubble constant) at a frequency of 2.8 nanohertz, which is approximately a factor of 6 more stringent than previous limits. We compare our limit to models of the SMBH population and find inconsistencies at confidence levels between 46 and 91\%. For example, the standard galaxy formation model implemented in the Millennium Simulation Project is inconsistent with our limit with 50\% probability.",

author = "Shannon, \{R. M.\} and V. Ravi and Coles, \{W. A.\} and G. Hobbs and Keith, \{M. J.\} and Manchester, \{R. N.\} and Wyithe, \{J. S.B.\} and M. Bailes and Bhat, \{N. D.R.\} and S. Burke-Spolaor and J. Khoo and Y. Levin and S. Os{\l}owski and Sarkissian, \{J. M.\} and \{Van Straten\}, W. and Verbiest, \{J. P.W.\} and Wang, \{J. B.\}",

year = "2013",

month = oct,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1126/science.1238012",

language = "English",

volume = "342",

pages = "334--337",

journal = "Science",

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publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

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Shannon, RM, Ravi, V, Coles, WA, Hobbs, G, Keith, MJ, Manchester, RN, Wyithe, JSB, Bailes, M, Bhat, NDR, Burke-Spolaor, S, Khoo, J, Levin, Y, Osłowski, S, Sarkissian, JM, Van Straten, W, Verbiest, JPW & Wang, JB 2013, 'Gravitational-wave limits from pulsar timing constrain supermassive black hole evolution', Science, vol. 342, no. 6156, pp. 334-337. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1238012

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AU - Shannon, R. M.

AU - Ravi, V.

AU - Coles, W. A.

AU - Hobbs, G.

AU - Keith, M. J.

AU - Manchester, R. N.

AU - Wyithe, J. S.B.

AU - Bailes, M.

AU - Bhat, N. D.R.

AU - Burke-Spolaor, S.

AU - Khoo, J.

AU - Levin, Y.

AU - Osłowski, S.

AU - Sarkissian, J. M.

AU - Van Straten, W.

AU - Verbiest, J. P.W.

AU - Wang, J. B.

PY - 2013/10/18

Y1 - 2013/10/18

N2 - The formation and growth processes of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are not well constrained. SMBH population models, however, provide specific predictions for the properties of the gravitational-wave background (GWB) from binary SMBHs in merging galaxies throughout the universe. Using observations from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array, we constrain the fractional GWB energy density (ΩGW) with 95% confidence to be Ω GW(H0/73 kilometers per second per megaparsec)2 < 1.3 x 10-9 (where H0 is the Hubble constant) at a frequency of 2.8 nanohertz, which is approximately a factor of 6 more stringent than previous limits. We compare our limit to models of the SMBH population and find inconsistencies at confidence levels between 46 and 91%. For example, the standard galaxy formation model implemented in the Millennium Simulation Project is inconsistent with our limit with 50% probability.

AB - The formation and growth processes of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are not well constrained. SMBH population models, however, provide specific predictions for the properties of the gravitational-wave background (GWB) from binary SMBHs in merging galaxies throughout the universe. Using observations from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array, we constrain the fractional GWB energy density (ΩGW) with 95% confidence to be Ω GW(H0/73 kilometers per second per megaparsec)2 < 1.3 x 10-9 (where H0 is the Hubble constant) at a frequency of 2.8 nanohertz, which is approximately a factor of 6 more stringent than previous limits. We compare our limit to models of the SMBH population and find inconsistencies at confidence levels between 46 and 91%. For example, the standard galaxy formation model implemented in the Millennium Simulation Project is inconsistent with our limit with 50% probability.

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DO - 10.1126/science.1238012

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VL - 342

SP - 334

EP - 337

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6156

ER -

Gravitational-wave limits from pulsar timing constrain supermassive black hole evolution

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