OJ 287 Galaxy Likely Harbors Supermassive Black Hole Binary at Its Center, Observations Suggest
Using data from the 10 m radio and radio-telescope and a network of 27 ground observatories, astronomers have detected an unusual ribbon type jet in the heart of the OJ 287, a galaxy located about 5 billion light years in the Constellation of Cancer.
This image of OJ 287 reveals the structure in the form of a clearly curved ribbon of the plasma jet emitted by its center. Image credit: Efthalia Trairanou / Heidelberg University / IWR.
“Among the different classes of active galactic nuclei, BL lacerae (BL LAC) objects are distinguished by their rapid and large amplitude variability and their significant polarization through several wave bands, which is attributed to relativistic jets closely linked with our line of view of Heidelberg University, Efthalia, and colleagues.
“An eminent member of this subclass is OJ 287, located at a glow towards the red of Z = 0.306.”
The optical observations of the OJ 287 extended to the 1880s, which caused an exceptionally long curve of light extending over almost 150 years.
This set of in -depth data has revealed periodic brightness fluctuations, including a prominent 60 -year cycle and recurrent and recurrent rockets, doubly peaks, high luminosity rockets approximately every 12 years.
These periodic variations are well explained by the presence of a supermassive black hole binary in which a secondary black supermassive hole follows an eccentric precess orbit of precession around a more massive primary.
“We have never observed a structure in the OJ 287 Galaxy in terms of details observed in the new image,” said Dr. Traianou.
“The image, which penetrates deep into the center of the galaxy, reveals the structure in the form of a clearly curved tape of the jet.”
“It also indicates new perspectives on the composition and behavior of the plasma jet.”
“Some regions exceed the temperatures of 10 Billions of Kelvin – Extremes of extreme energy and movement released near a black hole.”
Astronomers also observed the formation, propagation and collision of a new shock wave along the jet and attribute it to energy in the range of volts of electrons at billions of billions of an unusual measurement of the gamma radius taken in 2017.
They captured an image of the OJ 287 in the radio range using Radioastron and 27 floor observatories.
The image is based on a measurement method which derives from the nature of the waves of light and the waves that overlap associated.
“The interferometric image underpins the hypothesis that a binary supermassive black hole is located inside the OJ 287,” said the researchers.
“It also provides important information on how the movements of these black holes influence the shape and orientation of the plasma jets emitted.”
“Its special properties make galaxy an ideal candidate for additional research on the merger of black holes and associated gravitational waves.”
The results appear in the newspaper Astronomy and astrophysics.
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E. Trairanou and al. 2025. Revaluate a ribbon -shaped jet in OJ 287 with Radioastron. A&A 700, A16; DOI: 10.1051 / 0004-6361 / 202554929
