X-Ray Bursts Signal Black Hole Awakening

quick Summary

• Astronomers have observed the most powerful rhythmic X-ray signals, known as quasi-periodic eruptions (qpes), from a recently awakened supermassive black hole.
• QPEs are mysterious repeating signals first identified a few years ago, but their exact cause is still unknown.
• These findings could provide insights into how supermassive black holes emerge from periods of dormancy.

Image: An artist’s impression of gas and dust around the massive black hole at the center of galaxy SDSS1335+0728 (Credit: ESO/M. kornmesser).