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International Team Reexamines Black Hole Physics Using New X-ray Data

Black holes are fascinating objects, yet their origins and how they grow by accreting mass remain deeply mysterious. One of the most straightforward ways to study them would be to take a direct image of a black hole and its immediate surroundings. However, this is an immense challenge; the nearest stellar-mass black hole is 3000 light-years away. Observing it in detail is as difficult as trying to see a virus from the distance of the Moon.

Because of this, astronomers must rely on indirect methods. Recent discoveries from NASA’s IXPE X-ray polarisation telescope are shaking up long-held ideas about how black holes accrete. For years, scientists have used certain models to understand how black holes pull in matter and spin but new data suggests those oversimplified models might need to be reconsidered.

One key issue is how we measure a black hole’s spin, which helps us understand how it formed and how it grows. But if the basic assumptions behind those measurements are off, then the results might not be as reliable as we thought.

With more high-quality data now available from telescopes like IXPE, NuSTAR, and NICER, researchers are taking a fresh look at these existing models. A new project brings together experts from Fudan University and the University of Warwick to revisit X-ray data and consider just how accurate our current black hole spin measurements really are.

By combining advanced computer simulations with real telescope observations, the team aims to improve the way we study black holes, helping scientists plan better future missions and secure funding for new research.

Dr Jiachen Jiang

Department of Physics

University of Warwick

Bambi

Prof Cosimo Bambi

Department of Physics

University of Warwick

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