NASA IXPE’s Longest Observation Solves Black Hole Jets Mystery - NASA
NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) has delivered new clarity on how black hole jets are created and powered. By conducting its longest-ever observation of a distant active galaxy, the mission closely studied the behavior of high-energy X-rays coming from a supermassive black hole. Scientists analyzed the polarization of these X-rays to understand the role of magnetic fields near the black hole. The findings show that tightly ordered magnetic fields, rather than chaotic shock waves, guide particles and launch powerful jets at near-light speed. This discovery helps solve a long-standing mystery about why black hole jets remain stable over vast distances in space. The results also improve our understanding of extreme cosmic environments and how energy moves across galaxies. IXPE’s observations mark a major step forward in black hole research and high-energy astrophysics.
The Key points
- IXPE completed its longest observation of a black hole system
- Study focused on X-ray polarization from black hole jets
- Strong magnetic fields play a key role in jet formation
- Findings challenge shock-based jet acceleration theories
- Jets travel at nearly the speed of light
- Magnetic order keeps jets stable over long distances
- Observation targeted a supermassive black hole galaxy
- Data improves understanding of extreme cosmic physics
- Results help explain energy transport across galaxies
- IXPE opens new paths for black hole research
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