Colossal Gamma-Ray Eruption Detected Originating from Supermassive Dark Hole
A team of scientists recently detected a burst of gamma-rays from a far-off supermassive black hole, which was significantly larger than its event horizon. This gamma-ray burst emitted photons that were billions of times more powerful than visible light, making it the strongest such flare observed in over a decade. The occurrence persisted for approximately three days and, according to the research team's analysis, originated from an area smaller than 3 light-days in size, or approximately 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers). The findings, which were released today in Astronomy & Astrophysics, delve into the environment surrounding the M87 black hole.
Over 300 scientists collaborated on the study, which investigates the physics of the black hole. This celestial phenomenon draws material towards its core and energizes nearby particles, propelling them into colossal streams of material. These streams collide with surrounding objects and can reach immense dimensions; two streams were discussed in September and were 140 times longer than the width of the Milky Way galaxy.
A representation of the gamma-ray burst's light curve (depicted in blue at the bottom) and other virtual depictions of the M87 jet. Diagram: EHT Collaboration, Fermi-LAT Collaboration, H.E.S.S. Collaboration, MAGIC Collaboration, VERITAS Collaboration, EAVN Collaboration
"We're still unclear about how particles are accelerated near the black hole or within the jet," stated Weidong Jin, a researcher from UCLA and the paper's main author, in a university announcement. "These particles are so energetic, they're traveling near the speed of light, and we're determined to understand where and how they accumulate such energy. Our study includes the most extensive spectral data ever gathered for this galaxy, as well as modeling to illuminate these processes."
The research team identified a disparity between the event horizon's position and angle and the location of the black hole's jet, suggesting that the interactions between particles and the event horizon influence the jet's position.
"These initiatives could shed light on the disc-jet connection and uncover the fundamental causes and mechanisms behind the gamma-ray photon emission," explained Giacomo Principe, a researcher from the University of Trieste and a co-author of the paper, in a Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian announcement.
As of now, only two black holes have been directly imaged. Since light cannot escape their event horizons, we refer to "directly imaged" as the black hole's shadow being directly captured at the center of the energetic, light-emitting accretion disk. The supermassive black hole at the heart of galaxy M87 was spectacularly unveiled in 2019, becoming the first black hole ever directly imaged by humans.
Subsequent observations revealed that the black hole was oscillating and had a denser ring than previously assumed. The Event Horizon Telescope collaboration captured the image of M87, and followed up with an image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of our galaxy, in 2022.
"Forthcoming observations—both with an improved EHT array and those planned for the upcoming years—will offer invaluable insights and an extraordinary opportunity to examine the physics surrounding M87’s supermassive black hole," Principe concluded.
As imaging technologies progress and the models astrophysicists utilize to comprehend these remote and extreme environments advance, we will gain a clearer understanding of some of the structures molding our universe. In turn, understanding these nuances of the universe may lead to new discoveries about the boundaries of classical physics as we currently perceive it.
The team's findings in the study suggest that future research on the disc-jet connection could reveal the fundamental mechanisms behind gamma-ray photon emission, potentially pushing the boundaries of current classical physics in space science. As technological advancements in imaging continue, we can expect future observations to provide more insights into the physics surrounding the supermassive black hole in M87, a key area of interest for space technology and science.
