An Upper Limit on the Spin of SgrA∗ Based on Stellar Orbits in Its Vicinity

Giacomo Fragione*, Abraham Loeb

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

The spin of the massive black hole (BH) at the center of the Milky Way, SgrA∗, has been poorly constrained so far. We place an upper limit on the spin of SgrA∗ based on the spatial distribution of the S-stars, which are arranged in two almost edge-on disks that are located at a position angle of approximately ±45° with respect to the Galactic plane, on a milliparsec scale around the Galactic center. Requiring that the frame-dragging precession has not had enough time to make the S-star orbital angular momentum precess, the spin of the massive BH at the center of the Milky Way can be constrained to χ ≲ 0.1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberabb9b4
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume901
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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