New Research Reveals Black Holes Emit Stellar Matter Years After Consuming Stars
In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have found that black holes, which consume stars in tidal disruption events (TDEs), emit stellar remains years later. This revelation challenges existing computer models and paves the way for a deeper understanding of these mysterious celestial objects.
TDEs occur when stars venture too close to black holes, and are stretched and squeezed by their immense gravity. As a result, black holes tear apart the stars involved in these events within a matter of hours. The remnants of the destroyed stars either form an accretion disk around the black hole or get flung away.
Until now, observations of black holes involved in TDEs lasted only a few months following the events. However, recent research has allowed astronomers to monitor these black holes for hundreds of days. This extended observation period has led to the remarkable discovery that up to 50% of black holes emit stellar matter – a phenomenon likened to “burping” – years after the TDEs.
The emissions were observed between two and six years after the star-destroying events, leaving scientists with many unanswered questions. The origin of this material is currently unknown, but it is believed to come from outside the black holes.
This discovery poses a challenge to current computer models that simulate TDEs, suggesting a need for an update to incorporate the black holes’ unexpected behavior. Notably, in some instances, black holes emitted radio waves that peaked, faded, and then peaked again – indicating that black holes can “turn on” and “turn off” multiple times.
The ongoing monitoring of TDE-causing black holes will play a crucial role in unraveling their behavior and potential future emissions. Scientists hope that further investigations will shed light on the mechanisms behind these unprecedented observations and provide a clearer understanding of these enigmatic cosmic phenomena.
This groundbreaking research opens up new avenues for exploring the intricate relationship between stars and black holes. By delving deeper into the mysteries of TDEs, scientists will undoubtedly make further strides in unraveling the secrets of the universe.
