Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding that supermassive black holes can produce incredibly high-energy gamma rays. The phenomenon was observed at V4641 Sagittarii, a microquasar located about 20,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius.
The black hole, with a mass equivalent to six Suns, is actively consuming material from a nearby giant star, resulting in intense radiation that can be compared to a cosmic particle accelerator. The gamma rays detected by scientists carry energies of up to 200 teraelectronvolts (TeV), which is an astonishing 200 trillion times more energy than visible light.
Contrary to previous assumptions, this discovery reveals that microquasars – smaller versions of quasars – can produce radiation with similar properties as those found in larger quasars. This finding provides new insights into the physics surrounding supermassive black holes and offers a unique opportunity for scientists to study these objects on shorter timescales.
The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) gamma-ray observatory, located near the Sierra Negra volcano in Mexico, played a crucial role in detecting this phenomenon. The observatory uses 300 steel tanks filled with purified water to detect high-energy particles streaming from space, producing a flash of light called Cherenkov radiation.
The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of cosmic radiation and quasars. By studying microquasars like V4641 Sagittarii, scientists can gain a better grasp of the processes that occur within these objects and how they compare to those found in larger quasars.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/an-unexpected-object-is-blasting-powerful-radiation-in-deep-space