In an unprecedented observation, the X-ray space telescopes XMM-Newton and XRISM have captured a supermassive black hole generating ultra-fast winds in a single day. The event, occurring in the heart of the spiral galaxy NGC 3783, reveals a direct link between a brilliant X-ray flare and the sudden launch of material screaming into space at 60,000 kilometers per second—one-fifth the speed of light.
“We’ve not watched a black hole create winds this speedily before,” said lead researcher Liyi Gu. “For the first time, we’ve seen how a rapid burst of X-ray light immediately triggers these ultra-fast winds.”
The black hole, a monster 30 million times the Sun’s mass, powers an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) as it devours surrounding matter. The study suggests the winds were created when the AGN’s tangled magnetic field suddenly “untwisted,” releasing energy in a process startlingly similar to solar flares, but on an unimaginably vast scale. The subsequent winds resemble the Sun’s coronal mass ejections, making the physics of these distant giants seem more familiar.
“Windy AGNs play a big role in how their host galaxies evolve and form new stars,” noted team member Camille Diez. Understanding this magnetic-driven process is therefore key to deciphering galactic history.
This joint discovery highlights the power of collaboration between the veteran XMM-Newton and the newly-launched XRISM. By combining their observations, the telescopes not only tracked the flare’s evolution but also analyzed the winds’ speed and structure. The finding suggests that the fundamental physics governing our Sun may apply in the most extreme cosmic environments, offering a new lens through which to understand the universe.
