Incredible Power Measured for the First Time: The 'Dancing Jets' of a Black Hole Emit Energy Equivalent to 10,000 Suns 0 10

An international team of astronomers working under the auspices of Curtin University has made a breakthrough: they have managed to determine the power and speed of relativistic jets from the black hole Cygnus X-1 with unprecedented accuracy. This cosmic monster, one of the most studied and famous, is located approximately 7,200 light-years from our planet.

How Cosmic Power Was Measured

To achieve this goal, the researchers employed a giant network of radio telescopes that functioned as a single, colossal instrument, essentially a 'telescope the size of the Earth.' With its help, they meticulously observed how powerful streams of matter bend and deflect when colliding with the stellar wind emanating from the companion star of this black hole.

Mind-Boggling Speeds and Energy

The results of the calculations were staggering: the jets eject matter into space at an incredible speed of about 150,000 kilometers per second! This is nearly half the speed of light, which is astonishing in itself. Moreover, the analysis revealed that the total power of these cosmic flows is equivalent to the energy emitted by approximately 10,000 Suns. Imagine this colossal energy!

Confirmation of a Long-Standing Hypothesis

In addition to these impressive figures, the data obtained provided decisive confirmation for an estimate that has long been actively used in astrophysical models. It concerns the notion that about 10% of all the energy released when matter falls into the abyss of a black hole ultimately goes into these very jets. Until now, this value was perceived more as a convenient working assumption rather than a precisely confirmed and measured parameter.

Impact on Galaxy Evolution

The significance of these discoveries extends far beyond the mere study of Cygnus X-1. They are critically important for a deeper understanding of how black holes influence the evolution of entire galaxies. After all, their powerful jets play a key role in heating interstellar gas and thus effectively slowing down the excessively rapid and chaotic formation of new stars.