A new image captured using the Event Horizon Telescope has provided astronomers with the best view yet of the magnetic fields surrounding the massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Researchers have published two papers in the Astrophysical Journal Letters detailing the highly-ordered magnetic structures encircling the black hole, known as Sagittarius A*. By analyzing polarized light emitted from the region around the black hole, scientists have gained valuable insights into the underlying magnetic phenomena. This black hole is located approximately 27,000 light-years away from Earth.
The magnetic field surrounding Sagittarius A* is relatively strong, estimated to be about 30 times more powerful than Earth’s magnetic field. Despite this, the magnetic field is only as strong as a typical fridge magnet. This magnetic field is generated by charged particles within the hot dense plasma that surrounds the black hole’s accretion disk. The accretion disk consists of gas and dust that swirls into the black hole, creating these magnetic structures that have now been observed and studied in detail.
Comparisons have been made between the magnetic structures seen around the black hole in the Milky Way and the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87. Although these black holes have significant differences in size and activity, the magnetic structures around them appear remarkably similar. This suggests that structured magnetic fields are common around black holes and play a critical role in their growth and development. These findings challenge previous expectations of how different properties of magnetic fields may vary between black holes.
The black hole at the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*, is distinct from the black hole in M87 in terms of size, location, and observable characteristics. M87’s black hole is significantly larger, residing in a giant elliptical galaxy, and emits a powerful plasma jet, while Sagittarius A* is smaller, located in a spiral galaxy, and does not exhibit such a jet. Despite these differences, the presence of highly structured magnetic fields around both black holes indicates a commonality in the behavior of magnetic fields around black holes, shedding light on their role in the evolution of these cosmic phenomena.
This latest research provides valuable insights into the magnetic fields surrounding black holes, offering new perspectives on the interactions and effects of magnetic fields in these extreme cosmic environments. By utilizing advanced telescopic techniques, scientists have been able to study these magnetic structures in great detail, enhancing our understanding of black hole physics and the mechanisms that govern their behavior. Further studies and observations of black holes and their magnetic fields are crucial in unraveling the mysteries of these enigmatic cosmic entities and their impact on the universe.
