**Research Reveals Rotation of Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of M87**
An international research team, led by Tsei Yuzhu from China’s Zhejiang laboratory and including researchers from Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory (NAOJ), has made a groundbreaking discovery about the center of the elliptical galaxy M87. The team published a study revealing that the direction of a narrow, fast flow of gas known as a jet, which is ejected from the black hole at the galaxy’s core, undergoes a periodic change every 11 years.
M87, also known as Messier 87, is located approximately 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It is renowned for being an active galaxy that emits powerful jets from its center. Scientists believe that these jets are propelled by a supermassive black hole situated at the heart of the galaxy. As the black hole rapidly rotates, it causes the surrounding gas to be expelled at high speeds towards its poles.
In April 2019, the international research group called the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) announced their successful observation of the area surrounding the supermassive black hole in M87 using radio waves. They subsequently released an image of the black hole. Four years later, in April 2023, the group announced their ability to simultaneously observe the accretion disk, a ring-shaped structure formed by material collapsing as it orbits the black hole, and the base of the jet known as the “Masu jet.” The supermassive black hole at the center of M87 is estimated to have a mass equivalent to about 6.5 billion suns.
To investigate the detailed changes in the shape of the jet, Choi and colleagues analyzed 170 images captured through radio observations of M87 spanning over 20 years. The team discovered that the ejection direction of the jet followed a cycle of approximately 11 years.
Previous studies by the Japanese EHT group “EHT-Japan” had suggested that M87’s jet undergoes lateral changes in its ejection direction, but the cause and periodicity were unknown. Reflecting on the discovery, Choi expressed his shock and attributed the successful findings to the meticulous analysis of the extensive data collected over two decades of observations.
To understand the cause behind this periodic change, the research team conducted simulations using the National Astronomical Observatory’s astronomy supercomputer “ATERUI II.” Their findings revealed that when a rotating black hole drags through space and time, it creates an accretion disk—a ring-shaped structure. The researchers concluded that the periodic change in the jet’s direction can be explained as a form of precession. Precession occurs when a rotating object tilts its axis of rotation, resulting in a circular movement—an oscillation effect similar to a spinning top.
These results confirm that the supermassive black hole at the center of M87 is indeed rotating and that the black hole’s rotation plays a crucial role in the formation of the jets. The research team continues to investigate the M87 jet, and Professor Yoshiki Honma, the director of the National Astronomical Observatory of Mizusawa VLBI Observatory and a participant in the study, states, “In the future, we will utilize the changing shape of the jet to create a video of the black hole with the help of EHT.” By collaborating with other researchers, the team aims to enhance their understanding of the connection between the black hole and the jet, including the speed of rotation.
This research has provided new evidence supporting the presence of the Lens-Thirring effect, which suggests that black holes rotate. Additionally, it confirms that the mechanism known as the Blandford-Znaec mechanism, whereby the rotational energy of the black hole is extracted through the magnetic field, is likely occurring. It remains unknown how the jets achieve speeds exceeding 99% of the speed of light.
This groundbreaking study sheds light on the fascinating dynamics of supermassive black holes and their role in the shaping of galaxies. Future research in this field will undoubtedly deepen our understanding of these enigmatic cosmic entities.
*Footnotes:
*1 – The Lensing-Thirring effect refers to the relativistic effect in which the surrounding space-time is rotated by the drag of a rotating celestial body. The resulting precession is known as the Lens-Thirring precession or the Schilling effect.
*2 – According to EHT-Japan, the mechanism by which jets are accelerated to speeds beyond 99% of the speed of light remains unknown. The most likely explanation is the Blandford-Znaec mechanism, which involves the extraction of rotational energy from the black hole through its magnetic field.
Source:
NAOJ – “The pre-jet outlet of M87 – New evidence shows the ‘rotation’ of a supermassive black hole”
EHT-Japan – “The pre-jet outlet of M87 – New evidence shows the ‘rotation’ of a supermassive black hole”
Cui et al. – “Jet nozzle advance connecting with spiral black hole in M87” (Nature, Research Square)
An international research team led by Tsei Yuzhu, a researcher at China’s Zhejiang laboratory, and including researchers from Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory (NAOJ) discovered the center of the elliptical galaxy M87. The results of a study were published where it was found that the direction of the jet (a narrow, fast flow of gas) that is ejected from the asteroid changes every 11 years.
[▲ Darlun artistig o ddisg ailgronni a jet yn rhagflaenu o amgylch twll du anferth sy’n cylchdroi (Credyd: Cui et al. (2023), Intouchable Lab@Openverse, Zhejiang Lab.)]
M87 (Messier 87), located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, is known to be an active galaxy that emits jets from its center. The ejection of these jets includes a supermassive black hole believed to exist at the center of the galaxy, and some of the gas falling from the high-speed rotation of the black hole is ejected at high speed towards the poles of the black hole. believe that
[▲ Cyfeirnod: Galaeth eliptig “M87 (Messier 87)” a dynnwyd gan Delesgop Gofod Hubble (Credyd: NASA, ESA, a Thîm Treftadaeth Hubble (STScI/AURA); Cydnabyddiaeth: P. Cote (Sefydliad Astroffiseg Herzberg) ac E . Baltz (Prifysgol Stanford)]
In April 2019, the international research group “Event Horizon Telescope (EHT)” announced that it had succeeded in observing the area around the supermassive black hole at the center of M87 using radio waves, and released the Did image. Four years later, in April 2023, it was announced that they were able to simultaneously observe the accretion disk (a ring-shaped structure formed from material collapsing as it orbits) around the same black hole and the root of the Masu jet . The M87 supermassive black hole is estimated to have a mass of about 6.5 billion suns.
Related: Simultaneous structure around supermassive black hole and jet root successfully captured for first time (April 27, 2023)
[▲Cyfeirnod:Cysgodytwllduanferthyngnghanolgalaetheliptig”M87″aryddhawydganEHTymmisEbrill2019(Credyd:CydweithrediadEHT)]
This time, Choi and colleagues analyzed 170 images of the jet obtained through radio observations of M87 over more than 20 years, in order to investigate in detail how the shape of the jet changes. As a result, it was found that the ejection direction of the jet changes on a cycle of approximately 11 years.
According to the Japanese EHT group “EHT-Japan,” previous studies have suggested that M87’s jet changes laterally in the ejection direction, but whether there is a cause or periodicity is unknown. Looking back, Mr Choi says, “I was shocked when I made this discovery,” and said that this discovery was made possible through careful analysis of the huge amount of data obtained through over 20 years of observations.
[▲ Rhes uchaf: Enghraifft o ddelwedd o jet yr M87 a gafwyd trwy arsylwi radio. Rhes waelod: Newidiadau yng nghyfeiriad y jet wedi’i fesur rhwng 2000 a 2022. Mae’r gromlin goch yn dangos y model precession 11 mlynedd sy’n cyfateb orau i’r canlyniadau a arsylwyd (Credyd: Cui et al. (2023))]
[▲ Delwedd animeiddio yn dangos sut mae cyfeiriad alldaflu jet yn newid dros amser (Credyd: Cui et al. (2023))]
In order to investigate the cause of this periodic change, the research team performed a simulation using the National Astronomical Observatory’s astronomy supercomputer “ATERUI II” and found that an accretion disk is created when a rotating black hole drags through space and time. around It turns out that this can be explained as a precession (*1) of Precession is a movement where a rotating object draws a circle while its axis of rotation tilts, and is also called oscillation. This movement is similar to the movement of a top that continues to rotate with its axis tilted.
[▲ Rhagflaeniad y ddisg ailgronni a’r jet a ddangosir mewn efelychiad gan ddefnyddio Arsyllfa Seryddol Genedlaethol uwchgyfrifiadur Japan “ATERUI II” (Credyd: Tomohiro Kawashima (Sefydliad Ymchwil Cosmig Ray, Prifysgol Tokyo))]
This result confirms that the supermassive black hole (supermassive black hole) at the center of M87 is rotating, and that the rotation of the black hole is involved in the production of jets (*2). The research team continues to work on the observation of the M87 jet, and Professor Yoshiki Honma, director of the National Astronomical Observatory of Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, who participated in the research, said, “In the future, we will use the changes in the shape of the jet obtained to create a video of the black hole that can be obtained with EHT.” By comparing the results with other researchers, we would like to get the connection between the black hole and the jet more correct, as well as the speed of its rotation.”
■Footnotes
*1…The relativistic effect by which the surrounding space-time is rotated by being dragged by a rotating celestial body is called the “Lensing-Thirring effect,” and the precession caused by this effect is the “Lensio-Thirring effect.” It is called the Schilling excess.
*2…According to EHT-Japan, it is not yet known how jets accelerated to more than 99% of the speed of light are emitted, and that the rotational energy of the black hole is extracted through the magnetic field The mechanism said to have been surpassed (the Blandford-Znaec mechanism) is considered the most likely candidate. By finding evidence of Lens-Schilling precession, which suggests that black holes rotate, this research confirms that this mechanism is likely to be occurring.
Source
NAOJ – The pre-jet outlet of M87 – New evidence shows the “rotation” of a supermassive black hole – EHT-Japan – The pre-jet outlet of M87 – New evidence shows the “rotation” of a super-massive black hole Evidence ~ Cui et al . – Jet nozzle advance connecting with spiral black hole in M87 (Nature, Research Square)
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