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Unprecedented X-ray Pulses Detected from Distant Supermassive Black Hole
A group of leading astronomers, including Dr. William Alston from the University of Hertfordshire’s Center of Astrophysics, have made a groundbreaking discovery involving periodic X-ray pulses emanating from the supermassive black hole known as 1ES 1927+654, situated roughly 270 million light-years from Earth.
Initially, the X-ray emissions were detected at intervals of 18 minutes, but over the course of two years, this timing has accelerated to a remarkable seven minutes. This change in the pulsing pattern represents a unique phenomenon in astrophysical studies, garnering significant attention from the scientific community globally.
The research team, which is spearheaded by astronomer Megan Masterson from MIT, posits that these X-ray signals may originate from a white dwarf star—an extremely dense remnant of a previous stellar explosion—that is closely orbiting the black hole’s event horizon. It appears that this white dwarf is gradually losing its outer layers, a scenario that might help it evade complete consumption by the black hole’s overwhelming gravitational forces.
Dr. Alston elaborated, stating, “Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) signify regular variations in X-ray brightness in proximity to a black hole. They serve as a natural clock, assisting in our understanding of how matter behaves as it approaches. This gives us the chance to scrutinize extreme physical conditions, including the predictions laid out by Einstein’s theory of relativity.”
He further explained, “Although detecting QPOs from smaller black holes within our galaxy is relatively straightforward, identifying them from supermassive black holes has posed significant challenges. This is an area I’ve been dedicated to exploring for the last decade.”
“The QPOs observed from 1ES 1927+654 are notably distinct and exhibit changes over time. While they share some similarities with those from smaller black holes, they also display unique characteristics, suggesting an atypical process is at work.”
This discovery not only enhances current knowledge of black hole behavior but also paves the way for forthcoming space missions. If the white dwarf is indeed emitting these X-ray pulses, it could also be giving rise to gravitational waves—disturbances in spacetime that were theorized by Einstein’s general relativity.
Looking ahead, scientists are optimistic that future observatories like the European Space Agency’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), slated for launch in the 2030s, will successfully detect these elusive gravitational waves, providing further validation for the current hypothesis.
This research was showcased at the 245th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS 2025), which took place in National Harbor, Maryland, in January. It marks a pivotal development in the exploration of black holes and their interactions with neighboring stellar remnants. Ongoing observations with both current and future telescopes are anticipated to yield even deeper insights into the extreme physics that govern these mysterious cosmic entities.
As astronomers continue to track this dynamic system, it becomes increasingly clear that 1ES 1927+654 is playing a crucial role in advancing our comprehension of the universe, underscoring the notion that the cosmos is replete with astonishing phenomena.
Citation: Rapidly accelerating X-ray flashes from a black hole 270 million light-years away (2025, February 17) retrieved 17 February 2025 from https://phys.org/news/2025-02-rapidly-ray-black-hole-million.html
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phys.org