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Illustration of an object that triggered a glare of energy near an over -fat black hole. | Credit: ESA
In December 2019, a simple galaxy of 300 million light -years from us in the Virgo constellation Suddenly woke upS After decades of inactivity, the black hole in the heart of the galaxy broke out of light. Now it seems that the cosmic monster is doing something that forces astronomers to re -evaluate their understanding of these massive celestial bodies.
Thehe black hole It now releases powerful X -rays at almost regular intervals. These outbursts are known as quasi -presiral eruptions (QPE) and have been observed, emitted by other black holes. But the outbursts observed here are up to 100 times powerful than normal, according to new studies. It was first observed in February 2024 by astronomers at Valparaiso University in Chile, this behavior gives scientists an unprecedented view of a black hole that seems to wake up from dive without returning to sleep.
Guided by the Valparaiso team, a group of researchers posted their Black Hole QUE observations in a survey on April 11 in the magazine AstronomyS In addition to giving astronomers a new look at black holes, these events also stimulate researchers to review how black holes behave.
“This is the first time we watch a similar event in a black hole that seems to wake up,” the first author of the newspaper Lorena Hernandez-GarciaAstronomy Researcher at Valparaiso University, said in a statementS “This rare event enables astronomers to monitor the behavior of a black hole in real time.”
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The galaxy, called SDSS1335+0728, first attracted attention to itself in 2019, when it unexpectedly began to shine. At that time, astronomers from the European South Observatory studied the event by consulting NASA X -ray X -ray, the X -ray of the Erosita X -ray telescope. After an investigation into the central region of Galaxy – nickname Ansky – They locked that the flash is the result of the massive black hole in Anne, which starts the active phase.
But in February 2024, the Hernandez-Garcia team noticed outbursts of pre-open X-rays arising from Assey caught by XMM-NEWton XMM-NEWton X-ray, Chandra and NASA’s Swift. These Qpes are instant, recurrent X -ray torches. Astronomers believe that QPE is the result of interaction between accumulation -The rotating red-hot fabric that surrounds a black hole-nearby objects, such as a star or a smaller black hole.
Stronger and longer
But Ansky’s Qpe is not typical. They are remarkable because they last 10 times longer and are 10 times larger than the average QPE, the researchers said. Resistant for more than four days, each releases a hundred times more energy than what is expected. These QPE reveal a completely new aspect of black holes that do not fit well in the preliminary understanding of astronomers for space bodies.
In particular, these unusual QPE can help expand our understanding of how these events happen. For example, there is no evidence that Ansky has cut a star in his accent disc, which is currently what researchers believe most QPE. Therefore, there must be another explanation for the impetus that causes Qpes in this case.
X -ray outbursts can instead come from energy shocks to the accenta disk, encouraged by a small celestial object, repeatedly disrupting its orbital material, according to the document.
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These repetitive QPE may also come from Gravitational wavesS The European Space Agency Forthcoming laser interferometer space antenna (LISA)Ready to start in 2035, it can confirm that the connection by detecting gravitational waves with greater fidelity than ever.
So far, Ansky is reshaping the way we present black holes.
“Studying ASKI will help us better understand the black holes and how they develop,” said Hernandez-Garsia.