Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have confirmed that ultraluminous accretion disks around supermassive black holes wobble similarly to their dimmer counterparts. This discovery, published in the Astrophysical Journal, sheds light on the dynamics of these disks and their impact on surrounding space.
Accretion disks, composed of gas and dust, orbit black holes, converting gravitational energy into electromagnetic energy. While previous studies noted that dimmer disks exhibit wobbling behavior, it was unclear if ultraluminous disks did as well.
The research team conducted large-scale simulations incorporating electromagnetic radiation dynamics and general relativity, revealing that ultraluminous disks also process as they are influenced by the black holes' gravity. This wobbling affects the ejection direction of gas and plasma jets emitted from the black holes, which can lead to periodic brightness changes observed in quasars.
The study aims to further investigate the spin of the black holes at the centers of these accretion disks. By comparing long-term simulations with astronomical observations, researchers hope to enhance understanding of the relationship between black hole spin and various cosmic phenomena.