scholarly journals M87 Supermassive Black Hole Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mekhala Ganguly
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Virgo Cluster ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Cluster Of Galaxies ◽  
Hot Plasma ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Relativistic Particles

M87 is a giant elliptical galaxy in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. The radio source has a core which coincides with the nucleus of the galaxy and a jet of emission which is detected from radio to X-ray bands. A supermassive black hole is assumed to be at the centre of M87 which sends out relativistic particles in the form jets along its axis of rotation. Relativistic particles accelerated in a magnetic field, give out synchrotron radiation. The centre is surrounded by an accretion disc, which is the closest that we can probe into a black hole. High resolution observations are needed to examine the nature of the radio emission closest to the centre of M87. An array of millimetre-band telescopes across the globe were used as an interferometer, called the Event Horizon Telescope, (EHT) to probe the nuclear region. The angular resolution of this interferometer array is 25 microarc sec, at a wavelength of 1.3mm and the data was carefully calibrated and imaged. The resulting image shows an asymmetric ring which is consistent with the predictions of strong gravitational lensing of synchrotron emission from hot plasma near the event horizon. In this paper, we review the results of the observations of the radio galaxy, M87, using the Event Horizon Telescope

scholarly journals Universal interferometric signatures of a black hole’s photon ring

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. eaaz1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Johnson ◽  
Alexandru Lupsasca ◽  
Andrew Strominger ◽  
George N. Wong ◽  
Shahar Hadar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Infinite Sequence ◽  
High Order ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Self Similar

The Event Horizon Telescope image of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87 is dominated by a bright, unresolved ring. General relativity predicts that embedded within this image lies a thin “photon ring,” which is composed of an infinite sequence of self-similar subrings that are indexed by the number of photon orbits around the black hole. The subrings approach the edge of the black hole “shadow,” becoming exponentially narrower but weaker with increasing orbit number, with seemingly negligible contributions from high-order subrings. Here, we show that these subrings produce strong and universal signatures on long interferometric baselines. These signatures offer the possibility of precise measurements of black hole mass and spin, as well as tests of general relativity, using only a sparse interferometric array.

scholarly journals The Brightest Point in Accretion Disk and Black Hole Spin: Implication to the Image of Black Hole M87*

Universe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav I. Dokuchaev ◽  
Natalia O. Nazarova
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Disk Model ◽  
Dark Region ◽  
High Resolution Image ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Black Hole Spin ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Expected Position

We propose the simple new method for extracting the value of the black hole spin from the direct high-resolution image of black hole by using a thin accretion disk model. In this model, the observed dark region on the first image of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87, obtained by the Event Horizon Telescope, is a silhouette of the black hole event horizon. The outline of this silhouette is the equator of the event horizon sphere. The dark silhouette of the black hole event horizon is placed within the expected position of the black hole shadow, which is not revealed on the first image. We calculated numerically the relation between the observed position of the black hole silhouette and the brightest point in the thin accretion disk, depending on the black hole spin. From this relation, we derive the spin of the supermassive black hole M87*, a = 0.75 ± 0.15 .

scholarly journals Visible Shapes of Black Holes M87* and SgrA*

Universe ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav I. Dokuchaev ◽  
Natalia O. Nazarova
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Dark Spot ◽  
Disk Model ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Visible Images ◽  
Inner Parts

We review the physical origins for possible visible images of the supermassive black hole M87* in the galaxy M87 and SgrA* in the Milky Way Galaxy. The classical dark black hole shadow of the maximal size is visible in the case of luminous background behind the black hole at the distance exceeding the so-called photon spheres. The notably smaller dark shadow (dark silhouette) of the black hole event horizon is visible if the black hole is highlighted by the inner parts of the luminous accreting matter inside the photon spheres. The first image of the supermassive black hole M87*, obtained by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, shows the lensed dark image of the southern hemisphere of the black hole event horizon globe, highlighted by accreting matter, while the classical black hole shadow is invisible at all. A size of the dark spot on the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) image agrees with a corresponding size of the dark event horizon silhouette in a thin accretion disk model in the case of either the high or moderate value of the black hole spin, a≳0.75.

scholarly journals Constraining a black hole companion for M87* through imaging by the Event Horizon Telescope

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (1) ◽  
pp. L90-L93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammadtaher Safarzadeh ◽  
Abraham Loeb ◽  
Mark Reid
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Semimajor Axis ◽  
Virgo Cluster ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Positional Accuracy ◽  
Long Baseline ◽  
Low Mass Ratio

ABSTRACT The Event Horizon Telescope, a global very long baseline interferometric array observing at a wavelength of 1.3 mm, detected the first image of the M87 supermassive black hole (SMBH). M87 is a giant elliptical galaxy at the centre of the Virgo cluster, which is expected to have formed through merging of cluster galaxies. Consequently M87* hosted mergers of black holes through dynamical friction and could have one or multiple binary companions with a low mass ratio at large separations. We show that a long-term monitoring of the M87 SMBH image over ∼1 yr with absolute positional accuracy of 1 ≈ $\mu$as could detect such binary companions and exclude a large parameter space in semimajor axis (a0) and mass ratio (q), which is currently not constrained. Moreover, the presence of the accretion disc around M87* excludes a binary companion with a0 ≈ of the order of a milliparsec, as otherwise the accretion disc would have been tidally disrupted.

scholarly journals WISDOM project – VII. Molecular gas measurement of the supermassive black hole mass in the elliptical galaxy NGC 7052

2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (4) ◽  
pp. 5984-5996
Author(s):  
Mark D Smith ◽  
Martin Bureau ◽  
Timothy A Davis ◽  
Michele Cappellari ◽  
Lijie Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Gas Kinematics ◽  
Long Baseline ◽  
Gas Measurement ◽  
Strong Gradient

ABSTRACT Supermassive black hole (SMBH) masses can be measured by resolving the dynamical influences of the SMBHs on tracers of the central potentials. Modern long-baseline interferometers have enabled the use of molecular gas as such a tracer. We present here Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC 7052 at 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$11 ($37\,$pc) resolution in the 12CO(2-1) line and $1.3\,$ mm continuum emission. This resolution is sufficient to resolve the region in which the potential is dominated by the SMBH. We forward model these observations, using a multi-Gaussian expansion of a Hubble Space Telescope F814W image and a spatially constant mass-to-light ratio to model the stellar mass distribution. We infer an SMBH mass of $2.5\pm 0.3\times 10^{9}\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$ and a stellar I-band mass-to-light ratio of $4.6\pm 0.2\, \mathrm{M_\odot /L_{\odot ,I}}$ (3σ confidence intervals). This SMBH mass is significantly larger than that derived using ionized gas kinematics, which however appears significantly more kinematically disturbed than the molecular gas. We also show that a central molecular gas deficit is likely to be the result of tidal disruption of molecular gas clouds due to the strong gradient in the central gravitational potential.

scholarly journals Null Geodesics and Strong Field Gravitational Lensing in a String Cloud Background

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sharif ◽  
Sehrish Iftikhar
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Deflection Angle ◽  
Orbital Motion ◽  
Strong Field ◽  
Schwarzschild Black Hole ◽  
Field Limit ◽  
Null Geodesics ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole

This paper is devoted to studying two interesting issues of a black hole with string cloud background. Firstly, we investigate null geodesics and find unstable orbital motion of particles. Secondly, we calculate deflection angle in strong field limit. We then find positions, magnifications, and observables of relativistic images for supermassive black hole at the galactic center. We conclude that string parameter highly affects the lensing process and results turn out to be quite different from the Schwarzschild black hole.

scholarly journals A strong magnetic field around the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Galaxy

Nature ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 501 (7467) ◽  
pp. 391-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Eatough ◽  
H. Falcke ◽  
R. Karuppusamy ◽  
K. J. Lee ◽  
D. J. Champion ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Strong Magnetic Field ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy

scholarly journals Revising the merger scenario of the galaxy cluster Abell 1644: a new gas poor structure discovered by weak gravitational lensing

2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (2) ◽  
pp. 2007-2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Monteiro-Oliveira ◽  
L Doubrawa ◽  
R E G Machado ◽  
G B Lima Neto ◽  
M Castejon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Galaxy Cluster ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The North ◽  
Density Maps ◽  
Hydrodynamical Simulation ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Maximum Separation ◽  
Comprehensive Study

ABSTRACT The galaxy cluster Abell 1644 ($\bar{z}=0.047$) is known for its remarkable spiral-like X-ray emission. It was previously identified as a bimodal system, comprising the subclusters, A1644S and A1644N, each one centred on a giant elliptical galaxy. In this work, we present a comprehensive study of this system, including new weak lensing and dynamical data and analysis plus a tailor-made hydrodynamical simulation. The lensing and galaxy density maps showed a structure in the North that could not be seen on the X-ray images. We, therefore, rename the previously known northern halo as A1644N1 and the new one as A1644N2. Our lensing data suggest that those have fairly similar masses: $M_{200}^{\rm N1}=0.90_{-0.85}^{+0.45} \times 10^{14}$ and $M_{200}^{\rm N2}=0.76_{-0.75}^{+0.37} \times 10^{14}$ M⊙, whereas the southern structure is the main one: $M_{200}^{\rm S}=1.90_{-1.28}^{+0.89}\times 10^{14}$ M⊙. Based on the simulations, fed by the observational data, we propose a scenario where the remarkable X-ray characteristics in the system are the result of a collision between A1644S and A1644N2 that happened ∼1.6 Gyr ago. Currently, those systems should be heading to a new encounter, after reaching their maximum separation.

scholarly journals A Virgo Environmental Survey Tracing Ionised Gas Emission (VESTIGE)

2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A52 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Boselli ◽  
M. Fossati ◽  
A. Longobardi ◽  
G. Consolandi ◽  
P. Amram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
Narrow Band ◽  
Elliptical Galaxy ◽  
Virgo Cluster ◽  
Environmental Survey ◽  
Narrow Band Image ◽  
The North ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
North Western

We observed the giant elliptical galaxy M 87 during the Virgo Environmental Survey Tracing Galaxy Evolution (VESTIGE), a blind narrow-band Hα+[NII] imaging survey of the Virgo cluster carried out with MegaCam at the Canada French Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). The deep narrow-band image confirmed the presence of a filament of ionised gas extending up to ≃3 kpc in the north-western direction and ≃8 kpc to the southeast, with a couple of plumes of ionised gas, the weakest of which, at ≃18 kpc from the nucleus, was previously unknown. The analysis of deep optical images taken from the NGVS survey confirms that this gas filament is associated with dust seen in absorption which is now detected up to ≃2.4 kpc from the nucleus. We also analysed the physical and kinematical properties of the ionised gas filament using deep IFU MUSE data covering the central 4.8 × 4.8 kpc2 of the galaxy. The spectroscopic data confirm a perturbed kinematics of the ionised gas, with differences in velocity of ≃700–800 km s−1 on scales of ≲1 kpc. The analysis of 2D diagnostic diagrams and the observed relationship between the shock-sensitive [OI]/Hα line ratio and the velocity dispersion of the gas suggest that the gas is shock-ionised.

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