Scientists are observing a supermassive black hole in the galaxy 1ES 1927+654. In a short period of time, measured in months and years, it has increased its brightness by 100 times. Scientists believe that this monster’s magnetic poles have turned over.
Events in the galaxy 1ES 1927+654
1ES 1927+654 is a galaxy with an active nucleus. The supermassive black hole at its center emits a huge amount of energy, mainly in the X-ray and radio bands. However, in the autumn of 2017, amazing things began to happen to it. An already bright object has increased its brightness by 100 times over the course of several months.
Usually supermassive black holes in the centers of stellar systems are objects whose evolution lasts millions and hundreds of millions of years. However, the monster at the center of 1ES 1927+654 forced scientists to come to the conclusion that some active galactic nuclei undergo significant changes over time intervals measured in months.
In particular, the outburst in 1ES 1927+654 turned out to be quite short-lived. Seven giant telescopes that have been observing the galaxy over the years have seen its brightness grow rapidly at first, and then return to normal no less quickly.
How the black hole in the center of the galaxy has changed
Understanding of what is happening with a black hole in the center of a distant galaxy came to scientists thanks to events that occurred in 2021 and were confirmed by observations at the same time. The magnetic field of the black hole changed the polarity. This means that its north magnetic pole has become south and vice versa.
At the same time, the most gigantic body did not turn over. Simultaneously, another phenomenon was observed: an increase in radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum without an increase in X-ray radiation.
Only one event, according to scientists, could affect the black hole in this way. A large amount of electrically charged matter got into its accretion disk, and it tilted, emitting more ultraviolet light. The magnetic field of the ring turned out to be directed in the opposite direction relative to the black hole and at the same time stronger. It was this event that led to the inversion of the poles of the object.
How fast is the black hole evolving
A simple explanation of the events with a black hole in the galaxy 1ES 1927+654 is somewhat sensational given the scale of the object. The singularity has a size comparable to the solar system. The size of the accretion disk of the active nucleus of the galaxy can be measured in light years.
Until now, scientists believed that “fast” for such objects is something that happens for thousands of years. But now it becomes clear that the absorption of stellar mass objects by black holes can occur in a matter of months.
According to phys.org
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