Potential Kick Velocity distribution of black hole X-ray binaries and implications for natal kicks

Understand

We use Very Long Baseline Interferometry to measure the proper motions of three black hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs).

• Using these results together with data from the literature and Gaia-DR2 to collate the best available constraints on proper motion, parallax, distance and systemic radial velocity of 16 BHXBs, we determined their three dimensional Galactocentric orbits.
• We extended this analysis to estimate the probability distribution for the potential kick velocity (PKV) a BHXB system could have received on formation.
• Constraining the kicks imparted to BHXBs provides insight into the birth mechanism of black holes (BHs).