Use echoes of X-ray radiation to map cosmic black holes

The echo of X-ray radiation helps to identify the material properties swallowed by the black hole, the gas environment surrounding the black hole .

Matter falling into a black hole will release X-rays into the universe. Scientists have used the echo of radiation at X to map the motion of the environment around the black hole. Most cosmic black holes are so far away that it is difficult for us to determine their direct environment. However, these mysterious objects can still be discovered by seeing what matter looks like when it is near or falling into a black hole.

As matter flows toward a black hole, it will heat up and emit X-rays, interacting with gases near the black hole. These spaces are deformed by a strong reaction under the influence of the black hole.

Recently, researchers used the Space Agency's XMM-Newton observatory to track X-ray echoes and then map around the black hole at the core of an active galaxy.IRAS 13224-3809 Galaxy is one of the black holes containing the most variable X-ray source in the universe, appearing very large and fast fluctuations in brightness in just a few hours.

Galaxy IRAS 13224-3809 is one of the galaxies containing the black hole with the most modified X-ray source in the universe.(Photo: Sci-news).

Dr. William Alston from the Cambridge Astronomical Institute, the lead author of the study, explains that cosmic echoes are like listening to the different sounds between classroom and church. Differences in geometric architecture and construction materials make sound echoing also different."Similarly, we can capture the X-ray radiation propagating in the vicinity of the black hole to determine the shape of an area and the state of matter before being swallowed by the black hole ," Alston said.

The dynamics of gases do not have a close association with the properties of black holes, so scientists can determine the mass and spin of the central galactic black hole by observing the properties of objects substance when falling into a black hole.

Matter forms a disk when it falls into a black hole . Above the disk is a region of hot electrons with a temperature of about one billion degrees Celsius, called corona . While the scientists planned to capture X-ray echoes to map the area, they found that corona also changed size rapidly in just a few days.

Alston said: "When the size of the corona changes, the echo of the light is the same as when the ceiling of the church moves up and down, causing the sound to change. The mass of the black hole is fixed so any change will have an image. enjoy the environment ".

The study used the longest observed data about a black hole ever made with the XMM-Newton Observatory, collected from more than 16 spacecraft in 2011 and 2016 with a total of 2 million seconds of data in just more than 23 days. Combined with the strong and rapid volatility of black holes, the research team modeled a comprehensive echo pattern over a long period of time.

Determine the mass and spin of the galaxy's central black hole by observing the properties of matter falling into the black hole.(Photo: astronomy).

Understanding the environmental characteristics surrounding black holes is a core scientific goal for the Athenian mission of ESA at the European Space Astronomical Center. Expected in early 2030 will reveal the secrets of the universe has not been announced.

Measuring the mass, rotation speed and accretion speed of a large black hole is the key to helping scientists learn about the gravitational force in the universe. In addition, because supermassive black holes are closely associated with the properties of the host galaxy, this study also provides a wealth of information on the formation and development of galaxies.