Astronomers have captured a rare and extraordinary event: a dormant supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy 1ES 1927+654 has reactivated, releasing powerful jets of plasma into space.
Located approximately 270 million light-years away, this black hole’s sudden reawakening after years of inactivity has provided a fascinating glimpse into the dynamic processes of the universe.
A study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters describes how radio telescopes detected bursts of radio waves emanating from the black hole, signaling its unexpected revival. These observations revealed jets of plasma streaming outward from both sides of the black hole at roughly one-third the speed of light.
The black hole had been largely inactive since a notable flare in 2018, making this sudden emission of plasma jets an unprecedented phenomenon. Eileen Meyer, an associate professor of physics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, emphasised the significance of this transformation from a "radio quiet" to a "radio loud" state during a presentation at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) conference on January 13.
The black hole’s unusual behavior has been under observation since its 2018 flare, which was marked by intense X-ray activity followed by a sharp decline. By 2022, astronomers noticed the X-ray signals oscillating in a regular pattern, sparking theories about what could be fueling this activity.
One hypothesis involves a white dwarf star orbiting near the black hole’s event horizon. Scientists believe the star could be shedding material into the black hole, reigniting its activity and leading to the formation of the plasma jets. This potential interaction has raised intriguing questions about the nature of black holes and their surrounding environments.
The ongoing study of this reactivated black hole could offer valuable insights into how black holes interact with nearby stars and their broader cosmic surroundings. If a white dwarf is indeed involved, it may produce gravitational waves, which could eventually be detected by the forthcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), set to launch in 2035.