Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery using the RadioAstron space telescope and a network of ground-based observatories, revealing an unusual ribbon-like jet at the core of galaxy OJ 287. Located about 5 billion light-years away in the constellation of Cancer, this finding provides new insights into the behavior of plasma jets emitted by supermassive black holes.
Using data from RadioAstron and 27 ground-based observatories, astronomers detected periodic brightness fluctuations in OJ 287, including a prominent 60-year cycle and recurrent high-luminosity flares approximately every 12 years. These variations are attributed to the presence of a supermassive black hole binary system, where a secondary black hole follows a precessing orbit around a more massive primary.
The new image, which penetrates deep into the galaxy’s center, reveals the sharply curved jet and provides evidence of extreme energy release near the black hole. Temperatures in some regions exceed 10 trillion Kelvin, indicating an unusual gamma ray measurement taken in 2017. The scientists also observed the formation and collision of a new shock wave along the jet.
The findings suggest that OJ 287 is an ideal candidate for further research into merging black holes and gravitational waves. The discovery provides new insights into the composition and behavior of plasma jets, shedding light on the complex dynamics of supermassive black hole systems.
Source: https://www.sci.news/astronomy/oj-287-jet-14106.html