York Researchers Identify Record Quasar UV Wind at Nearly One-Third Light Speed
Updated
Updated · geneonline · Jun 4
York Researchers Identify Record Quasar UV Wind at Nearly One-Third Light Speed
3 articles · Updated · geneonline · Jun 4
Summary
Nearly one-third the speed of light—about 30%—was measured for an ultraviolet wind near a quasar, making it the fastest such wind ever recorded in that spectrum.
York University researchers said intense gravitational and radiative forces from the quasar’s central supermassive black hole accelerate matter to the extreme velocity.
Data from quasar J2318 in Pegasus, with the speed confirmed using Gemini North telescope observations and Sloan Digital Sky Survey data, underpinned the finding.
The result gives astronomers new evidence on quasar energy output and could sharpen models of how black holes shape their host galaxies through feedback.
A quasar's wind travels at 30% light speed. How does this cosmic storm build or destroy an entire galaxy?
With a 'naked' black hole also found, which discovery better explains the origin of galaxies and their monstrous cores?
If these galactic 'hurricanes' create vast planetary 'kill zones', does this dramatically shrink our map for finding alien life?
Record-Breaking Quasar J2318: Unveiling the Universe’s Fastest Ultraviolet Black Hole Wind at 30% the Speed of Light
Overview
Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying the fastest wind ever observed near a supermassive black hole at ultraviolet wavelengths. This ultra-fast outflow comes from Quasar J2318, a distant and luminous disk of matter surrounding a black hole with a mass about 1.7 billion times that of our Sun. The gas is being expelled at 30% of the speed of light, moving directly towards us, making it the fastest ultraviolet wind detected so far. This discovery marks a significant advancement in understanding the extreme environments around these cosmic giants and offers a unique opportunity to study the physics of active galactic nuclei.