Telescope Unveils Sharpest View of a Supermassive Black Hole

This advancement provides unparalleled insight into the dynamic processes surrounding supermassive black holes at galaxy centers, including interactions like dusty winds and radio jet feedback.

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are highly energetic regions fueled by supermassive black holes consuming surrounding material. As this matter spirals inward, it releases immense energy, making AGN some of the universe’s most luminous phenomena. Researchers from the University of Arizona, using the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI), have captured the highest-resolution infrared images of an AGN to date.

Collaborating with the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, the team published their findings in Nature Astronomy on January 17.

“This achievement proves the potential of the LBTI, essentially the first extremely large telescope,” said Jacob Isbell, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona and lead author of the study.

AGN Characteristics and Nearby Discoveries

Some galaxies host “active” supermassive black holes, depending on their accretion rate. The AGN in galaxy NGC 1068, one of the closest to the Milky Way, was studied due to its brightness.

The LBTI on Mount Graham, Arizona, uses two 8.4-meter mirrors for high-resolution imaging, previously applied to Jupiter’s moon Io. This technique now reveals AGN details.

“The AGN in NGC 1068 was ideal for testing due to its brightness,” said Isbell.

The team observed a bright accretion disk emitting radiation pressure, creating a dusty, outflowing wind. Farther out, bright regions linked to a radio jet were found to heat molecular gas and dust.

Advanced imaging tools like the LBTI and Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) now allow scientists to separate feedback mechanisms, such as dusty winds and radio jets, once blurred by low-resolution imaging.

Future Applications

These findings reveal the complexity of AGN environments and their interactions with host galaxies.

“This imaging technique applies to various astronomical objects,” Isbell noted. “We’ve already started studying disks around stars and large, evolved stars with dusty envelopes.”

Using the LBTI and next-generation telescopes, astronomers can uncover more intricate details about the cosmos.

Read Original Article: Scitechdaily

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