Observed Magnetic Reversal Near the First Ever Imaged Black Hole Challenges Current Theoretical Models
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, approximately 55 million light-years from Earth, lies the elliptical galaxy M87 and its supermassive black hole, M87*. This colossal black hole, with a mass about 6 billion times that of our Sun, produces a jet of material that extends for up to 5,000 light-years.
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a global collaboration of researchers from institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, MIT, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and the European Southern Observatory, has been instrumental in studying M87*. The EHT uses interferometry, effectively functioning as a single telescope as big as the Earth, to capture images of celestial objects.
In 2021, the EHT collaboration made significant strides in observing M87. The first image of a black hole was, in fact, of M87, revealing its event horizon in unprecedented detail. The latest observations also included data from two new telescopes (Kitt Peak in Arizona and NOEMA in France) and others that had received upgrades, improving the quality of the measurements.
One of the most intriguing findings from these observations is the dynamic and complex behaviour of the magnetized plasma swirling near the event horizon of M87. The polarization pattern of this plasma has shown significant changes over the years. In the latest observations, the polarization pattern around M87 is going in the opposite direction compared to the initial observation in 2017.
These changes in the polarization pattern challenge current models and indicate that there is much still unknown near the event horizon of M87*. Paul Tiede, from the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian, stated, "These new observations have not only confirmed the complex behaviour we saw in 2017, but they've also shown that the plasma is even more dynamic than we thought."
The study of M87's jet and its magnetic properties provides insight into the formation of such jets. Jets like the one in M87 play a key role in shaping the evolution of their host galaxies. The findings from the EHT collaboration will undoubtedly fuel further research and questions, keeping scientists busy for many more years. The study of M87's jet and its magnetic properties is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Read also:
- Unveiling the Less-Discussed Disadvantages of Buds - Revealing the Silent Story
- Kenya broadens economic zones featuring Olkaria's geothermal energy advantage
- Nutritional Healthcare: Linking Patients with Crucial Nourishment Through Medical Professionals
- Century Lithium Announces Production of Battery-Grade Lithium Metal Anodes from Angel Island Lithium Carbonate
