NASA’s Chandra X-ray observatory has captured images of a shockwave created when a jet of high-energy particles from a black hole collided with a nearby object, potentially a massive star or binary system. The collision and resulting turbulence have increased the density in the region, leading to strong electromagnetic fields that heat up the material.
At the center of the galaxy Centaurus A, 12 million light years away, a supermassive black hole is firing its jet into space. The high-energy particles have struck a nearby target, creating a shockwave that has been detected by Chandra. The team believes this object is either a giant star or a binary system.
The collision between the jet and the stellar wind from the star is generating X-rays, which are being emitted due to the increased density of gas in the region. This event has also revealed a strange V-shaped structure in the deepest image from Chandra, with arms measuring at least 700 light years long. The findings were published in the Astrophysical Journal and provide insights into the behavior of black holes at the center of galaxies.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/170085/zap-a-black-hole-scores-a-direct-hit-with-its-jet