{
  "id": "2310.03074",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2023-10-04T18:00:02.000Z",
  "updated": "2023-10-04T18:00:02.000Z",
  "title": "Evidence for the evolution of black hole mass function with redshift",
  "authors": [
    "Stefano Rinaldi",
    "Walter Del Pozzo",
    "Michela Mapelli",
    "Ana Lorenzo Medina",
    "Thomas Dent"
  ],
  "comment": "14 pages, 19 figures. Comments welcome",
  "categories": [
    "astro-ph.HE",
    "astro-ph.GA",
    "gr-qc"
  ],
  "abstract": "We investigate the joint primary mass, mass ratio, and redshift distribution of astrophysical black holes using the gravitational wave events detected by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration and included in the third gravitational wave transient catalogue. We reconstruct this distribution using Bayesian non-parametric methods, which are data-driven models able to infer arbitrary probability densities under minimal mathematical assumptions. We find evidence for the evolution with redshift of both the primary mass and mass ratio distribution: our analysis shows the presence of two distinct sub-populations in the primary mass - redshift plane, with the lighter population, $\\lesssim$ 20 $M_\\odot$, disappearing at higher redshifts, $z > 0.4$. The mass ratio distribution shows no support for symmetric binaries. The observed population of coalescing binary black holes evolves with look-back time, suggesting a trend in metallicity with redshift and/or the presence of multiple, redshift-dependent formation channels.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2023-10-04T18:00:02.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "black hole mass function",
      "binary black holes evolves",
      "mass ratio distribution",
      "primary mass",
      "third gravitational wave transient catalogue"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 14,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable"
    }
  }
}