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Relativistic baryonic jets from an ultraluminous supersoft X-ray source
Ji-Feng Liu1,2, Yu Bai1, Song Wang1
1Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 20A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100012, China.
Nature
|November 26, 2015
Summary
Astrophysicists observed relativistic jets from an ultraluminous supersoft X-ray source (ULS), challenging current jet formation theories. This unexpected finding suggests a super-accreting black hole may be responsible for these powerful outflows.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysics
- X-ray astronomy
- Compact object research
Background:
- Relativistic jets from accreting compact objects are a key astrophysical mystery.
- Microquasars exhibit established relativistic jet phenomenology.
- Supersoft X-ray sources typically do not produce relativistic jets, but some show low-velocity outflows.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature of relativistic jets in ultraluminous supersoft X-ray sources (ULSs).
- To analyze the optical spectra of the ULS M81 ULS-1.
- To challenge and refine existing theories of relativistic jet formation.
Main Methods:
- Optical spectroscopy of M81 ULS-1.
- Analysis of time-variable, blueshifted Hα emission lines.
- Comparison with known microquasars like SS 433.
Main Results:
- Observed relativistic speeds (17% speed of light) in baryonic jets from M81 ULS-1.
- Detected time-variable, broad Hα emission lines.
- Found characteristics similar to the microquasar SS 433.
Conclusions:
- The presence of relativistic jets in a ULS challenges canonical jet formation theories.
- The findings suggest a potential link between ULSs and super-accreting black holes with optically thick outflows.
- This discovery opens new avenues for understanding jet launching mechanisms.
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