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A Deep Dive into Black Hole Spin Measurement Using Continuum Fitting
- 1 Nemzetkozi Alaptivany International Christian School of Budapest, Ifjúság út 11, 2049, Budapest, Hungary
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper explores the continuum fitting method for estimating the spin of stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binaries. By fitting the thermal emission created by the accretion disk to theoretical models, this method provides a precise and accessible way to estimate the spin of black holes. Key developments, including the use of KERRBB and SIMPL models, improve accuracy by accounting for disk structure and Compton scattering effects. This paper reviews recent applications of this technique and compare it to the X-ray reflection method, noting that continuum fitting is highly accurate for black holes with strong thermal emission. This paper also gives the new spin measurement of some black hole, especially the Cygnus X-1, that has the spin a_*>0.976, but also use it to prove that the continuum fitting method which relies heavily on knowing the black hole’s three parameters. Finally, this paper discusses both the advantages and challenges of this method, with an expectation of future improvements in modeling and observations that can expand its use.
Keywords
accretion disk, black holes, continuum fitting method, spin measurement
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Cite this article
Wang,Q. (2025). A Deep Dive into Black Hole Spin Measurement Using Continuum Fitting. Theoretical and Natural Science,86,15-19.
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Computing Innovation and Applied Physics
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