Triple and Quadruple Black Holes in the ASTRID Simulation at $z \sim 2$

Abstract

We use the ASTRID cosmological hydrodynamic simulation to investigate the properties and evolution of triple and quadruple Massive Black Hole (MBH) systems at $z = 2-3$. Only a handful of MBH tuple systems have been detected to date. In ASTRID, we find $4\%$ of the $M_{\rm BH}>10^7\,M_\odot$ are in tuples with $\Delta r_{\rm max} < 200\,{\rm kpc}$. The tuple systems span a range of separations with the majority of the observable AGN systems at $\Delta r \sim 50-100$ kpc. They include some of the most massive BHs (up to $10^{10} \,M_\odot$) but with at least one of the components of $M_{\rm BH} \sim 10^7 \,M_\odot$. Tuples' host galaxies are typically massive with $M_* \sim 10^{10-11} \,M_\odot$. We find that $>10\%$ massive halos with $M_{\rm halo} > 10^{13} M_\odot$ host MBH tuples. Following the subsequent interactions between MBHs in tuples, we found that in $\sim 5\%$ of the triplets all three MBHs merge within a Gyr, and $15\%$ go through one merger. As a by-product of the complex multi-galaxy interaction of these systems, we also find that up to $\sim 5\%$ of tuples lead to runaway MBHs. In ASTRID, virtually all of the ultramassive black holes ($>10^{10} \,M_\odot $) have undergone a triple quasar phase while for BHs with $M_{\rm BH} \sim 10^9 \,M_\odot$ this fraction drops to $50\%$.