IAFE   05512
INSTITUTO DE ASTRONOMIA Y FISICA DEL ESPACIO
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Stellar black holes at the dawn of the universe
Autor/es:
I. F. MIRABEL, M. DIJKSTRA, P. LAURENT, A. LOEB, AND J. R. PRITCHARD
Revista:
ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
Editorial:
EDP SCIENCES S A
Referencias:
Año: 2010 vol. 528 p. 149 - 155
ISSN:
0004-6361
Resumen:
Context. It is well established that between 380 000 and 1 billion years after the Big Bang the Inter Galactic Medium (IGM) underwent
a ¡°phase transformation¡± from cold and fully neutral to warm (¡Ö104 K) and ionized. Whether this phase transformation was fully
driven and completed by photoionization by young hot stars is a question of topical interest in cosmology.It is well established that between 380 000 and 1 billion years after the Big Bang the Inter Galactic Medium (IGM) underwent
a ¡°phase transformation¡± from cold and fully neutral to warm (¡Ö104 K) and ionized. Whether this phase transformation was fully
driven and completed by photoionization by young hot stars is a question of topical interest in cosmology.¡Ö104 K) and ionized. Whether this phase transformation was fully
driven and completed by photoionization by young hot stars is a question of topical interest in cosmology.
Aims. We propose here that besides the ultraviolet radiation from massive stars, feedback from accreting black holes in high-mass
X-ray binaries (BH-HMXBs) was an additional, important source of heating and reionization of the IGMin regions of low gas density
at large distances from star-forming galaxies.We propose here that besides the ultraviolet radiation from massive stars, feedback from accreting black holes in high-mass
X-ray binaries (BH-HMXBs) was an additional, important source of heating and reionization of the IGMin regions of low gas density
at large distances from star-forming galaxies.
Methods. We use current theoretical models on the formation and evolution of primitive massive stars of low metallicity, and the
observations of compact stellar remnants in the near and distant universe, to infer that a significant fraction of the first generations of
massive stars end up as BH-HMXBs.We use current theoretical models on the formation and evolution of primitive massive stars of low metallicity, and the
observations of compact stellar remnants in the near and distant universe, to infer that a significant fraction of the first generations of
massive stars end up as BH-HMXBs.
Results. The total number of energetic ionizing photons from an accreting stellar black hole in an HMXB is comparable to the total
number of ionizing photons of its progenitor star. However, the X-ray photons emitted by the accreting black hole are capable of
producing several secondary ionizations and the ionizing power of the resulting black hole could be greater than that of its progenitor.
Feedback by the large populations of BH-HMXBs heats the IGM to temperatures of ¡Ö104 K and maintains it ionized on large distance
scales.The total number of energetic ionizing photons from an accreting stellar black hole in an HMXB is comparable to the total
number of ionizing photons of its progenitor star. However, the X-ray photons emitted by the accreting black hole are capable of
producing several secondary ionizations and the ionizing power of the resulting black hole could be greater than that of its progenitor.
Feedback by the large populations of BH-HMXBs heats the IGM to temperatures of ¡Ö104 K and maintains it ionized on large distance
scales.¡Ö104 K and maintains it ionized on large distance
scales.
Conclusions. BH-HMXBs determine the early thermal history of the universe and maintain it as ionized over large volumes of space
in regions of low density. This has a direct impact on the properties of the faintest galaxies at high redshifts, the smallest dwarf
galaxies in the local universe, and on the existing and future surveys at radio wavelengths of atomic hydrogen in the early universe.BH-HMXBs determine the early thermal history of the universe and maintain it as ionized over large volumes of space
in regions of low density. This has a direct impact on the properties of the faintest galaxies at high redshifts, the smallest dwarf
galaxies in the local universe, and on the existing and future surveys at radio wavelengths of atomic hydrogen in the early universe.