Scientists have, for the first time, directly measured the astonishing power of jets erupting from a black hole, revealing an instantaneous energy output equivalent to 10,000 suns.
This groundbreaking observation also tracked the jets' incredible speed, clocking in at approximately 355 million mph – half the speed of light.
The focus of this unprecedented study was Cygnus X-1, a binary system located 7,200 light-years away, notable for being the first black hole ever identified over half a century ago.
It features a black hole constantly drawing gases from its companion, a blue supergiant star.
Led by the University of Oxford’s Steve Prabu, the international research team utilized 18 years of high-resolution radio imaging from a global telescope network.
Their findings, published in Nature Astronomy, allowed them to measure the swift power of these "dancing jets" as they were pushed in opposing directions by the stellar wind, a feat previously impossible as jet power could only be averaged over millennia.
A key discovery highlighted that 10% of all energy released as matter falls into the black hole is subsequently carried away by these powerful jets.
The supergiant star acts as a crucial fuel source, providing the black hole with material to "eat" and then launch as these energetic outflows.
These precise measurements offer vital insights into how black holes influence the evolution of galaxies and other cosmic structures through large-scale shocks and turbulence.
Prabu intends to apply these innovative techniques to further black hole systems, promising more exciting revelations about these enigmatic cosmic phenomena.
