Scientists have made new observations of a mass black hole and discovered new details regarding the configuration of a hot plasma that surrounds the cosmic giant, according to Interesting Engineering.
(Photo : JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Astrophysicist at Center for Astrophysics Michael Johnson speaks during a news conference to announce the first image of Sagittarius A*, a supermassive black hole, at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2022.
In a press release, the researchers stated that they used measurements of the polarization of X-ray observations to refine models that describe the elusive behavior of these celestial matter.
The black hole that was observed is referred to as Cygnus X-1, which has a mass of 21 Suns. It is also one of the brightest X-ray sources in the Milky Way and has a 41 solar mass companion star in orbit.
The new measurements are first captured by the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission, which is part of a collaboration between NASA and Italian Space Agency (ASI).
Before, the arrival direction of black holes is the only one measured, along with its arrival time and energy of the X-rays from hot plasma. Now, the IXPE measures linear polarization that contains more information how X-rays were emitted, and if, and where they scatter off material that is close to the black hole.
IXPE is also able to detect X-rays emitted by the hot plasma around 1,240 miles away from the event horizon. With this, the researchers combined the data with observations made at the same time by NASA's NICES and NuSTAR X-ray observatories. Through this, the researchers were able to analyze the geometry of the plasma.
What They Found
The researchers found that their plasma extends outwards perpendicular to a long plasma outflow. With this, it allows for strong support to the hypothesis that the processes in the X-ray bright region close to the black hole plays a vital role in launching the jet.
Their observations corroborate certain models that can predict the behavior of hot plasma around black holes. This also rules out one that predicts that the corona of a black hole is a narrow plasma column along the jet axis. The scientists believe that their observations can help with the further understanding of the mysterious behavior of a black hole and how it accretes mass.
The Mystery of Black Holes
Even with the previous monitoring of black holes, there is still much more to learn. But, this new information that has been gathered may be the first step in unraveling the mysteries of black holes.
In the past, there has been much speculation as to what happens around a black hole's event horizon. Some say it is too dark to be observed, and others believe that there is some sort of gateway that is hidden from our view.
These cosmic giants are so dense that not even light can escape it. They are surrounded by hot plasma. A black hole is formed when a large amount of mass is packed into a small area. The gravity from it is so strong that not even light can escape, with the exception of a black hole's boundary called the event horizon.
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Written by April Fowell
