Researchers have detected two massive beams of energy shooting out from a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy, with jets extending about 140 times the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy.
This black hole is located at the center of a galaxy 7.5 billion light-years away from Earth. The observations provide a glimpse into the universe when it was younger, showcasing the immense power of these cosmic phenomena.
Black holes in galaxies, including our own Milky Way, often emit jets of high-energy particles and magnetic fields as they consume matter from their surroundings. The new study, conducted using the LOFAR radio telescope, revealed jet structures extending 23 million light-years from end to end.
These jets, known as Porphyrion, are named after a giant from Greek mythology and are 30% longer than any previously documented jets. They are composed of subatomic particles and magnetic fields moving at nearly the speed of light, showcasing the violent events surrounding the black hole.
These jets have an energetic output equivalent to trillions of stars like the sun, potentially impacting the formation of new stars and habitable planets in interstellar space. The research sheds light on the vast influence that black holes can have on cosmic structures beyond their own galaxies.
Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the role of black hole jets in shaping the universe’s large-scale structure and the distribution of energy, particles, and magnetic fields throughout cosmic voids.
