In a major discovery, scientists working with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) have uncovered important information about the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Using polarized light, they found organized and powerful magnetic fields spiraling from the edge of the black hole, a structure that had never been seen before. This new image provides valuable insights into the magnetic field structure around Sgr A*, which is strikingly similar to that of the black hole in M87.
The research involved a collaboration of over 300 scientists from around the world and was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. In 2022, scientists released the first image of Sgr A* at press conferences worldwide, revealing similarities between it and M87 despite their differences in size and mass. To further investigate these similarities, the team studied Sgr A* in polarized light, revealing strong magnetic fields spiraling near the black hole.
Imaging black holes with polarized light is challenging due to their quick changes, making it difficult to capture detailed photos. The EHT collaboration used advanced tools and a global network of telescopes to create a virtual Earth-sized telescope in 2017 to observe Sgr A*. This study indicates that both black holes have strong magnetic fields, suggesting this may be a fundamental characteristic of black holes. While a visible jet was observed at M87, scientists have not yet found one at Sgr A*. This research contributes significantly to our understanding of magnetic fields and structures around black holes, providing valuable insights into these mysterious cosmic objects.
The EHT collaboration involved researchers from universities across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia
