Unveiling the Black Hole: First Image Captures Accretion Ring and Relativistic Jet

A groundbreaking achievement in astronomy has resulted in the creation of an image that showcases both the accretion structure and the powerful relativistic jet emanating from the black hole situated at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy. By utilizing a combination of the Global Millimeter VLBI Array (GMVA), supplemented by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Greenland Telescope (GLT), astronomers have achieved a panoramic view of the black hole and its jet, revealing fascinating insights at a new wavelength. This remarkable image sheds light on the observable emission generated by material falling into the black hole, illustrating a larger and more pronounced ring-like structure.

Scientists employed cutting-edge technology to capture an unprecedented image that exposes both the accretion process and the jet emanating from the black hole in Messier 87. Through the utilization of the GMVA, ALMA, and GLT, they observed an expanded ring-like structure and a broader radiation originating from the black hole’s inner region, indicating the presence of an outwardly flowing wind. This remarkable breakthrough provides unprecedented details about the nature of black holes.

An international team of scientists, led by Dr. Rusen Lu from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, utilized millimeter-wavelength observations to generate an image that depicts, for the first time, the ring-like accretion structure encircling a black hole, where matter plunges into the gravitational abyss, alongside the associated relativistic jet. The featured black hole in the renowned radio galaxy Messier 87 served as the source for this groundbreaking image.

The study documenting this achievement was recently published in the prestigious journal Nature.

This image signifies the first explicit connection between the accretion flow near the central supermassive black hole and the origin of the jet. The new observations were made possible by the Global Millimeter VLBI Array (GMVA), which was significantly bolstered by the inclusion of the phased Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Greenland Telescope (GLT), resulting in a considerable enhancement of the GMVA’s imaging capabilities.

Image of the jet and black hole in Messier 87 obtained through millimeter-VLBI using the GMVA array, ALMA, and the Greenland Telescope. Credit: R.-S. Lu (SHAO), E. Ros (MPIfR), S. Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF)

Dr. Lu expressed the significance of this achievement, stating, “While we previously had separate images of the black hole and the jet, we now possess a panoramic picture that showcases the black hole alongside its jet at a new wavelength.”

The prevailing understanding suggests that the surrounding material undergoes accretion as it falls into the black hole. However, direct imaging of this phenomenon had remained elusive.

Dr. Lu explained that the previously observed ring had expanded both in size and thickness when observed at the 3.5 mm wavelength. “This expansion indicates that the material being consumed by the black hole emits additional radiation, now detectable in the new image. It provides us with a more comprehensive understanding of the physical processes occurring in the vicinity of the black hole,” added Dr. Lu.

The involvement of ALMA and GLT in the GMVA observations, resulting in heightened resolution and sensitivity for this intercontinental network of telescopes, facilitated the imaging of the ring-like structure in Messier 87 at the 3.5 mm wavelength for the first time. The diameter of the ring, as measured by the GMVA, amounts to 64 microarcseconds, which is equivalent to the size of a small (5-inch/13-cm) selfie ring light on Earth when observed by an astronaut on the Moon. This diameter surpasses the observations made by the Event Horizon Telescope at 1.3 mm, aligning with expectations regarding the emission from relativistic plasma in this region.

Map of the radio telescopes used to image Messier 87 at 3.5 millimeters in the 2018 Global Millimetre VLBI Array (GMVA) campaign. Credit: Helge Rottmann, MPIfR

Thomas Krichbaum from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Bonn expressed his excitement about the improved imaging capabilities resulting from the inclusion of ALMA and GLT in the GMVA observations. He stated, “With these enhancements, we can now observe the well-known triple-ridged jet, but more importantly, we can observe how the jet emerges from the emission ring encircling the central supermassive black hole, and we can measure the ring diameter at a different (longer) wavelength.”

The light emitted by Messier 87 is a product of the interaction between highly energetic electrons and magnetic fields, known as synchrotron radiation. The new observations at a wavelength of 3.5 mm unveil further details about the location and energy of these electrons. Additionally, they provide insights into the nature of the black hole itself, revealing its relatively low consumption rate of matter and the conversion of only a small fraction of it into radiation.

Keiichi Asada from the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics of Academia Sinica noted that the team made a surprising discovery in their data. “The radiation originating from the inner region close to the black hole exhibited a broader profile than our expectations. This suggests the presence of more than just infalling gas; there might also be an outflowing wind causing turbulence and chaos in the vicinity of the black hole,” explained Asada.

The exploration of Messier 87 and its mysteries is far from over, as further observations and a collection of powerful telescopes are poised to unlock even more secrets. Jongho Park from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute affirmed, “Future millimeter wavelength observations will delve into the time evolution of the M87 black hole, providing a polychromatic view that showcases multiple color images in radio light.”

For more information about this groundbreaking discovery, refer to the following resources:

• Historic First Direct Image of a Black Hole Emitting a Powerful Jet
• New Black Hole Images Reveal a Glowing, Fluffy Ring and High-Speed Jet
• Black Hole and Powerful Jet Unveiled in Exquisite Detail
• Unprecedented Image of Black Hole’s Powerful Jet and Shadow

Reference: “A ring-like accretion structure in M87 connecting its black hole and jet” by Ru-Sen Lu, Keiichi Asada, Thomas P. Krichbaum, Jongho Park, Fumie Tazaki, Hung-Yi Pu, Masanori Nakamura, Andrei Lobanov, Kazuhiro Hada, Kazunori Akiyama, Jae-Young Kim, Ivan Marti-Vidal, José L. Gómez, Tomohisa Kawashima, Feng Yuan, Eduardo Ros, Walter Alef, Silke Britzen, Michael Bremer, Avery E. Broderick, Akihiro Doi, Gabriele Giovannini, Marcello Giroletti, Paul T. P. Ho, Mareki Honma, David H. Hughes, Makoto Inoue, Wu Jiang, Motoki Kino, Shoko Koyama, Michael Lindqvist, Jun Liu, Alan P. Marscher, Satoki Matsushita, Hiroshi Nagai, Helge Rottmann, Tuomas Savolainen,Title: Landmark Discovery: First-Ever Image Reveals Black Hole’s Accretion Ring and Relativistic Jet

Summary:
Astronomers have achieved a significant milestone by generating an image that showcases both the accretion structure and the powerful relativistic jet emitted by the black hole at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy. By employing advanced telescopes such as the Global Millimeter VLBI Array (GMVA), the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and the Greenland Telescope (GLT), scientists obtained a panoramic view of the black hole and its jet at a new wavelength. This groundbreaking image reveals a larger and more prominent ring-like structure formed by material falling into the black hole, providing unprecedented insights into these cosmic phenomena.

Article:
In a remarkable feat of astronomical observation, researchers have produced an image capturing both the accretion structure and the relativistic jet emanating from the black hole situated at the heart of the Messier 87 galaxy. The image was generated using cutting-edge telescopes, including the Global Millimeter VLBI Array (GMVA), the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and the Greenland Telescope (GLT), enabling astronomers to gain a panoramic perspective of the black hole and its jet at a previously unexplored wavelength. This extraordinary image unveils a larger and more distinct ring-like structure, shedding light on the emission generated by matter being consumed by the black hole.

By leveraging the capabilities of the GMVA, ALMA, and GLT, scientists have achieved an unprecedented view of the accretion process and the jet associated with the black hole in Messier 87. The observations reveal an expanded ring-like structure and a broader radiation originating from the inner region of the black hole, indicating the presence of an outflowing wind. This breakthrough discovery provides invaluable new details about the enigmatic nature of black holes.

Dr. Rusen Lu, leading an international team of scientists from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, spearheaded the use of millimeter-wavelength observations to produce an image that presents, for the first time, both the ring-like accretion structure encircling the black hole and the accompanying relativistic jet. The team focused on the central black hole of the renowned radio galaxy Messier 87.

This remarkable achievement was recently published in the esteemed journal Nature.

The image establishes a groundbreaking link between the accretion flow near the central supermassive black hole and the origin of the jet. The advanced imaging capabilities of the GMVA were significantly enhanced by incorporating ALMA and GLT into the observations, resulting in a comprehensive view of the triple-ridged jet, its emergence from the emission ring encircling the central black hole, and the measurement of the ring diameter at a different, longer wavelength.

The 3.5 mm wavelength observations, providing a new perspective on Messier 87, shed further light on the interplay between highly energetic electrons and magnetic fields, known as synchrotron radiation. These observations yield valuable insights into the location and energy of the electrons and reveal that the black hole has a relatively low accretion rate, converting only a small fraction of consumed matter into radiation.

Keiichi Asada from the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics of Academia Sinica expressed surprise at a “broader” radiation profile originating from the inner region near the black hole. This unexpected finding suggests the presence of additional processes, potentially involving an outflowing wind causing turbulence and chaotic phenomena near the black hole.

While this groundbreaking image provides a significant leap forward, the exploration of Messier 87’s mysteries is far from complete. Ongoing observations, coupled with a suite of powerful telescopes, promise to unlock even more secrets about this captivating cosmic entity. Future millimeter wavelength observations will delve into the temporal evolution of the black hole in M87, offering a polychromatic view through multiple color images captured in radio light.

For additional information on this groundbreaking discovery, please refer to the following resources:

• Historic First Direct Image of a Black Hole Emitting a Powerful Jet
• New Black Hole Images Reveal a Glowing, Fluffy Ring and High-Speed Jet
• Black Hole and Powerful Jet Unveiled in Exquisite Detail
• Unprecedented Image of Black Hole’s Powerful Jet and Shadow

Reference: “A ring-like accretion structure in M87 connecting its black hole and jet” by Ru-Sen Lu, Keiichi Asada, Thomas P. Krichbaum, Jongho Park, Fumie Tazaki, Hung-Yi Pu, Masanori Nakamura, Andrei Lobanov, Kazuhiro Hada, Kazunori Akiyama, Jae-Young Kim, Ivan Marti-Vidal, José L. Gómez, Tomohisa Kawashima, Feng Yuan, Eduardo Ros, Walter Alef, Silke Britzen, Michael Bremer, Avery E. Broderick, Akihiro Doi, Gabriele Giovannini, Marcello Giroletti, Paul T. P. Ho, Mareki Honma, David H. Hughes, Makoto Inoue, Wu Jiang, Motoki Kino, Shoko Koyama, Michael Lindqvist, Jun Liu, Alan P. Marscher, Satoki Matsushita, Hiroshi Nagai, Helge Rottmann, Tuomas Savolainen,

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• Historic First Direct Image of a Black Hole Emitting a Powerful Jet
• New Black Hole Images Reveal a Glowing, Fluffy Ring and High-Speed Jet
• Black Hole and Powerful Jet Unveiled in Exquisite Detail
• Unprecedented Image of Black Hole’s Powerful Jet and Shadow