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Testing the Kerr Black Hole Hypothesis with GX 339-4 by a combined analysis of its thermal spectrum and reflection features

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arxiv 2010.13474 v2 pith:IP2QYWJM submitted 2020-10-26 astro-ph.HE gr-qc

classification astro-ph.HEgr-qc
keywords alphablackholekerrreflectionthermalfeatureshypothesis
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abstract

We analyze simultaneous observations with NuSTAR and Swift of the black hole binary GX 339-4 in which we clearly detect both a strong thermal component and prominent relativistic reflection features. We employ NKBB and RELXILL_NK, which are the state of the art of, respectively, the thermal and reflection models to test the Kerr black hole hypothesis. We obtain unprecedented precise measurements of the Johannsen deformation parameter $\alpha_{13}$: $\alpha_{13} = -0.012_{-0.039}^{+0.011}$ (lamppost coronal geometry) and $\alpha_{13} = -0.010_{-0.018}^{+0.024}$ (broken power-law emissivity profile) at a 90% confidence level, where the Kerr metric corresponds to $\alpha_{13} = 0$. We investigate the systematic uncertainties by fitting the data with different models.

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Cited by 5 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. A Space Mission to Earth's Nearest Black Hole: Reality or Science Fiction?

    gr-qc 2026-07 conditional novelty 4.0 of 10

    An interstellar nanocraft mission to a nearby black hole is technologically speculative but potentially feasible within decades and could deliver precision strong-field tests of General Relativity.

  2. Testing Black Holes with Interstellar Missions: I. Orbiting Probes

    gr-qc 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 4.0 of 10

    Preliminary analysis of orbiting spacecraft around a black hole to test the compact object's nature and General Relativity under the assumption of deceleration capability.

  3. Improved Constraints on Non-Kerr Deviations from Binary Black Hole Inspirals Using GWTC-4 Data

    gr-qc 2026-04 conditional novelty 4.0 of 10

    GWTC-4 inspirals yield tighter constraints on Johannsen parameters α13 and ε3, both consistent with zero and thus with the Kerr geometry.

  4. Improved Constraints on Non-Kerr Deviations from Binary Black Hole Inspirals Using GWTC-4 Data

    gr-qc 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 3.0 of 10

    Bayesian constraints from GWTC-4 binary black hole inspirals show Johannsen metric deformation parameters α13 and ε3 consistent with zero, supporting the Kerr hypothesis.

  5. Physics and Astrophysics of Black Holes with eXTP

    astro-ph.HE 2026-07 accept novelty 2.0 of 10

    eXTP’s larger effective area and simultaneous polarimetry will tighten black-hole spin and Kerr-deviation constraints relative to NICER for the same exposure.

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