Black holes spin

2001/05/03 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Astrofisika

Astronomers have received an X-ray signal that shows that black holes spin. The signal coming from the center of the milky way is a very fast intermittent star.

Probably, black holes come from heavy stars. When the amount of material present exceeds a limit, an implosion occurs and a black hole is formed. Heavy stars spin. It is a proven phenomenon.

But black holes let very few types of radiation escape. And these stars are famous because they trap visible radiation, that is, they don't let light escape and, therefore, for our eyes, they are black holes. However, some radiations of great energy escape, but they are not the ones that astronomers have detected.

In recent years, scientists have detected an X-ray source from the center of the Milky Way. The signal it emits is oscillatory and has an almost uniform period. According to experts, its origin is found in the ring of matter that "feeds" the black hole in the place, and the frequency of the oscillation of the radiation we receive ensures that the black hole rotates.

It is a remarkable discovery, but from now on it will be necessary to adjust the theoretical equations to explain the observed.