Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how supermassive black holes create powerful jets that stretch across entire galaxies. By observing the galaxy NGC 1052, researchers detected radio waves and strong magnetic fields near the central black hole. These findings suggest that the black hole’s surroundings are ideal for capturing detailed images using advanced telescopes.
Located 60 million light-years from Earth, NGC 1052 is a promising target for studying this phenomenon. The Event Horizon Telescope network was used to collect data on the galaxy, with five telescopes working together to achieve high-resolution observations. The team discovered two key findings: radio waves emitted by the black hole’s surroundings are suitable for EHT observation, and the jet-formation region is comparable in size to previously imaged M87*.
The strongest magnetic field detected near the event horizon is 2.6 tesla, approximately 400 times stronger than Earth’s. This powerful magnetic field may help stop material from falling into the black hole, which can aid in launching the galaxy’s two jets. The researchers are now eager to further investigate the origins of these jets using advanced telescopes.
The success of this preliminary study suggests even more remarkable discoveries ahead, and the team is well on their way to unraveling the mysteries of supermassive black holes.
Source: https://scienceblog.com/550344/scientists-close-in-on-how-black-holes-launch-powerful-cosmic-jets