A unified Lense-Thirring precession model for optical and X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations in black hole binaries

Understand

Recent observations of accreting black holes reveal the presence of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) in the optical power density spectra.

• The corresponding oscillation periods match those found in the X-rays, implying a common origin.
• Among the numerous suggested X-ray QPO mechanisms, some may also work in the optical.
• However, their relevance to the broadband -- optical through X-ray -- spectral properties have not been investigated.