Indian scientists discover giant radio galaxy; supermassive black hole reborn after 10 crore years; is it a new chapter in understanding evolution of universe?
Indian Scientists Discover Giant Radio Galaxy: India has once again made its mark in the world of astronomy. A team of international scientists has discovered a rare phenomenon in the depths of space that has astonished the scientific world. Scientists have discovered a giant radio galaxy called J1007+3540, whose central supermassive black hole has become active again after a long sleep of approximately 10 crore years. According to scientists, the revival of a black hole within such a massive galaxy is extremely rare.
This landmark research was led by Pune-based astronomer Dr. Sabyasachi Pal and PhD scholar Shobha Kumari. Scientists from India and Poland also contributed significantly to this research. Dr. Surjit Paul from India and Dr. Marek Jamrozi from Poland played a key role in this study.
J1007+3540 galaxy is beyond imagination in terms of size
J1007+3540 is not an ordinary galaxy; rather, it is beyond imagination in terms of size. This massive structure spans an area of approximately 30 lakh light-years. Its magnitude can be gauged by the fact that it is approximately 50 times larger than our own Milky Way.
A new chapter in understanding the evolution of the universe
This discovery opens a new chapter in understanding the evolution of the universe and the workings of black holes. India's cutting-edge technology played a major role in the success of this research. Scientists utilized the UGMRT near Pune as well as other powerful telescopes around the world. In particular, the UGMRT's Band 3 frequency revealed layers of this galaxy that were previously hidden. These images allowed scientists to clearly see the structure of the galaxy's radio emissions, its old jets, and the newly generated internal jets.
Black hole has been reborn
The study revealed a remarkable structure. New, extremely powerful jets are emerging from the black hole amidst the old, faded jets. This is strong evidence that the black hole has been reborn. Since this galaxy is located at the center of a rich galaxy cluster, the pressure of the extremely hot gases present there bends these new jets, creating fascinating curved shapes in space.
Furthermore, a long, faint tail composed of millions of years of debris has been observed behind this galaxy, which scientists call the "galactic wake."
Galaxy is struggling for its existence
According to Dr. Sabyasachi Pal, this galaxy is not only evolving, but also struggling for its existence under external cosmic pressure. It is being seen as a "high-pressure cosmic laboratory." This research, conducted in collaboration with scientists from India and Poland, has been published in the prestigious international journal 'Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society' (MNRAS), which highlights India's scientific capabilities at the global level.