For the first time, scientists have measured the instantaneous power and speed of jets blasting from a black hole. The jets from the Cygnus X-1 system, located 7,200 light-years away, produce energy equivalent to 10,000 suns and travel at roughly 540 million km/h (355 million mph), or half the speed of light. The findings were published in Nature Astronomy.
The research, led by Steve Prabu of the University of Oxford and conducted while at Curtin University, analyzed 18 years of high-resolution radio imaging from a global telescope network. The team observed how the jets, dubbed "dancing jets," were bent by the stellar wind of the blue supergiant star orbiting the black hole. By measuring this deflection and using computer modeling, they calculated the jets' power and speed.
Cygnus X-1 is a binary system consisting of a black hole and a blue supergiant star. The black hole, the first ever identified over half a century ago, is known for its intense gravitational pull and the jets it emits. The star's powerful solar winds, which expel 100 million times more mass per second than the sun, bend the jets by about two degrees, allowing scientists to estimate their force and energy output.
The study marks a significant advancement in understanding black hole dynamics. Previously, jet power could only be averaged over tens of thousands of years. This new method provides real-time measurements, offering deeper insights into how black holes interact with their surroundings.