Astronomers have recently made a groundbreaking discovery of powerful magnetic fields swirling around the black hole located at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) announced this finding, stating that new imagery from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has revealed a ring of magnetic fields surrounding the Sagittarius A* black hole in polarized light for the first time.
These magnetic fields are similar to those observed around the M87* black hole in the heart of the M87 Galaxy, leading scientists to believe that strong magnetic fields might be a common feature of all black holes. Sara Issaoun from Harvard’s Center for Astrophysics, who co-led the project, described these magnetic fields as strong, twisted, and organized.
The EHT captured images in polarized light that allowed astronomers to isolate magnetic field lines and provide insights into their structure and strength. Supermassive black holes found at the centers of galaxies possess masses millions and even billions of times greater than that of our Sun, with their origins remaining a mystery to scientists.
Although nothing can escape from a black hole’s gravitational pull, advancements in technology have enabled researchers to indirectly observe them through halo imaging techniques. This technique captures images produced by flows of matter and gases attracted and expelled by these cosmic entities. These halo images provide key insights into their behavior and help scientists understand more about these fascinating celestial bodies.
Angelo Ricarte, a member of Harvard’s Black Hole Initiative and co-leader on this project, stated that by imaging polarized light from hot glowing gas near black holes, scientists can directly infer structures and strengths of magnetic fields surrounding these cosmic entities.
Mariafelicia De Laurentis, deputy scientist at EHT and professor at University of Naples Federico II added that strong magnetic fields observed around both M87* and Sagittarius A* may be universal fundamental features for such systems.
Overall, this discovery is an exciting development in our understanding of these mysterious cosmic objects that continue to fascinate scientists around the world.