Research on black holes has reached a new turning point.
According to a Chosun Ilbo report, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has achieved a groundbreaking observation of the M87 black hole with unprecedented resolution as of August 27th. This remarkable feat was led by Dr. Shep Doeleman from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, capturing the black hole and its environs with unparalleled clarity.
Black holes are mysterious objects in the universe, and since the first direct observation in 2019, their images have become clearer. The study extended the observing wavelength of the EHT from the previous 1.3 mm to 0.87 mm, allowing for a more detailed view of the black hole. The EHT collaboration achieved this by linking 10 large radio telescopes in the U.S., Chile, Spain, Antarctica, and other locations.
Previously, the M87 black hole appeared blurry due to light bending from its intense gravity. This new research made the image sharper than ever before. The team overcame challenges with shorter wavelengths by increasing the equipment’s bandwidth and waiting for good weather conditions to improve sensitivity.
The captured image prominently displays the “shadow” of the black hole caused by energy emitted as matter is drawn into it. The actual core of the black hole is estimated to be a point within the black circle in the photo. Another key focus of the study is the jet phenomenon around the black hole, where matter pulled in by the black hole emits energy as it twists under a strong magnetic field.
Research into black holes has advanced significantly since Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity in 1915. Recent improvements in observational technology have further propelled these studies. The late Stephen Hawking, who passed away in 2018, once described black holes as “the end of stars and the beginning of the universe,” suggesting that understanding these mysterious objects could unlock insights into the origins and fate of the universe.
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