Response to Comment on A Non-Interacting Low-Mass Black Hole -- Giant Star Binary System


Abstract in English

van den Heuvel & Tauris argue that if the red giant star in the system 2MASS J05215658+4359220 has a mass of 1 solar mass (M$_odot$), then its unseen companion could be a binary composed of two 0.9 M$_odot$ stars, making a triple system. We contend that the existing data are most consistent with a giant of mass $3.2^{+1.0}_{-1.0}$ M$_odot$, implying a black hole companion of $3.3^{+2.8}_{-0.7}$ M$_odot$.

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