In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have revealed the presence of powerful magnetic fields swirling around the black hole located at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Using new images from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), researchers were able to observe a ring of magnetic fields surrounding Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy, for the first time in polarized light.
The discovery was made possible through the use of polarized light images, which allowed astronomers to isolate and study the magnetic field lines of the black hole. According to Sara Issaoun, a member of Harvard’s Center for Astrophysics and co-lead of the project, this new finding shows that strong, twisted, and organized magnetic fields are present near Sagittarius A*.
Supermassive black holes are difficult to study due to their immense gravitational pull, which makes it impossible for anything, including light, to escape their grasp. However, with EHT capturing images of M87* in 2019 and Sagittarius A* in 2022, researchers were able to view the halo of light that forms due to the inflow and outflow of matter and gas around these entities. This allowed them to study these systems in greater detail than ever before.
Angelo Ricarte, a member of Harvard’s Black Hole Initiative and co-lead on the project, emphasized that imaging polarized light emitted by hot gas surrounding black holes is crucial for understanding their structure and strength. Mariafelicia De Laurentis, deputy scientist at EHT and professor at Naples Federico II University in Italy added that this discovery suggests a universal characteristic shared by all supermassive black holes.
In conclusion, this discovery marks a significant milestone in our understanding of these enigmatic celestial objects that inhabit our universe’s centers. With further research and exploration into this area using advanced technology such as EHT’s capabilities will undoubtedly lead to more breakthroughs in our understanding
