When a black hole dances, the universe listens in X-rays!
The European Space Agency's XMM-Newton space telescope has detected rapid variations in X-rays coming from the surroundings of a supermassive black hole at the heart of a neighboring galaxy. These observations reveal unexpected behaviors in the accretion of matter by these black holes and suggest a potential source of gravitational waves that ESA's future LISA mission could detect.
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The accretion process and the role of the corona
When a black hole attracts matter, it forms a spiral accretion disk around it, the gas in this disk heats up, mainly emitting rays ultraviolet (UV). These UV rays interact with a corona of plasma surrounding the black hole and the disk, gaining energy to become X-rays, which XMM-Newton can detect.
Observations de 1ES 1927+654
Since 2011, XMM-Newton has observed the supermassive black hole named 1ES 1927+654. In 2018, a major eruption disrupted its environment, leading to the temporary disappearance of the X-ray corona, which gradually returned until returning to normal in early 2021. In July 2022, XMM-Newton detected variations in the broadcast of x-rayswith oscillations of the order of 10% over intervals of 400 to 1000 seconds. These quasi-periodic oscillations are rare in supermassive black holes. According to Megan Masterson, a doctoral student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this was the first sign of an unusual phenomenon.
Hypothesis of a white dwarf in orbit
The oscillations could indicate the presence of a massive object, such as a woman blanche of about 0.1 solar masses, in rapid orbit in the accretion disk, gradually approaching the black hole. Calculations predicted that this object would be engulfed by the black hole on January 4, 2024. But in March 2024, XMM-Newton found that the oscillations persisted, with increased frequency, suggesting that the orbiting object was resisting engulfment . The researchers considered that the plasma corona itself might oscillate, but without an established theory to explain this behavior, they re-evaluated their initial model.
-New interpretation: interaction between two white dwarfs
Astronomers have also observed pairs of white dwarfs getting closer, where one transfers matter to the other, slowing down their fusion. They proposed that a similar phenomenon could occur here, with a white dwarf disrupting the black hole's accretion disk, delaying its absorption.
Future prospects with LISA
This study highlights the complexity of interactions between black holes and their environment. The ESA LISA missionpredicted to detect gravitational waves, could provide additional information on these phenomena, providing a better understanding of accretion processes and potential sources of gravitational waves.
61,000 km/h: this American creation built 47 years ago used only 15 minutes of fuel to reach this speed and its journey continues to the ends of the galaxy
This article highlights the fascinating discoveries made using the XMM-Newton telescope, unlocking the mysteries of black holes and their environments. The importance of space research for understanding extreme phenomena in the universe, while paving the way for future explorations with missions like LISA. These advances bring us closer to a deeper understanding of cosmic nature.
Source : ESA
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