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Observability of Isolated Stellar-mass Black Holes

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arxiv 2506.20711 v1 pith:S2L7OLWM submitted 2025-06-25 astro-ph.GA astro-ph.HEastro-ph.SR

Lena Murchikova , Kailash Sahu This is my paper
classification astro-ph.GAastro-ph.HEastro-ph.SR
keywords isobhsblackcurrentisolatedstellar-massbeenemissionsenvironments
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abstract

Stellar-mass black holes (BHs) represent the natural end states of massive stars. It is estimated that $10^8$ stellar-mass BHs are present in the Milky Way galaxy, a significant fraction of which are expected to be isolated. Despite their expected abundance, only about 20 have been detected so far - mostly in binary systems - with just one confirmed isolated black hole (IsoBH) identified via astrometric microlensing. In this study, we investigate the potential for detecting electromagnetic emissions from IsoBHs by generating synthetic model spectra of their emissions in different types of interstellar medium environments. These model spectra are then compared with current observational capabilities. We show that photons emitted by IsoBHs - especially those accreting material in dense environments or within the Solar neighborhood - should be readily detectable. However, confidently identifying these sources remains highly challenging. We conclude that a number of IsoBHs must already exist in current astronomical catalogs but have not been identified as such. We outline possible strategies for detection and identification of IsoBHs using the current and upcoming telescopes.

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Cited by 6 Pith papers

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

  1. Deep Chandra X-ray observation of the isolated black hole OGLE-2011-BLG-0462

    astro-ph.HE 2025-07 accept novelty 6.0 of 10

    A 53.5 kilosecond Chandra observation detects no X-ray source at the position of the isolated black hole OGLE-2011-BLG-0462, setting a 0.5-7 keV luminosity limit of 3.3×10^29 erg s^-1, eight times deeper than previous limits.

  2. 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.

  3. Testing Black Holes with Interstellar Missions: II. Flyby Probes

    gr-qc 2026-07 unverdicted novelty 4.0 of 10

    Flyby probes without spacecraft deceleration may still enable black-hole and GR tests beyond what Solar System observatories can achieve for the foreseeable future.

  4. 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.

  5. An interstellar mission to the closest black hole?

    gr-qc 2025-09 conditional novelty 3.0 of 10

    If a black hole lies within about 20 light-years, a laser-propelled nanocraft could reach it in roughly a century and test Einstein's theory and event horizons.

  6. Stellar-Mass Black Holes

    astro-ph.HE 2025-07 conditional novelty 1.0 of 10

    A concise review of stellar-mass black hole physics and observations, plus a speculative interstellar mission concept.

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