AI Insight
Astronomers using the Very Large Array have detected a powerful radio burst from an intermediate-mass black hole tearing apart a star. The observation revealed what appears to be an off-axis afterglow from a jet produced during this stellar disruption event. This rare detection provides direct evidence of jet activity from intermediate-mass black holes, which are considered "missing links" between stellar-mass and supermassive black holes.
Why it matters
This discovery helps fill a crucial gap in our understanding of black hole evolution, as intermediate-mass black holes have been difficult to observe and study. The detection of jet activity from these objects provides insight into how black holes across different mass scales behave during tidal disruption events and could help astronomers identify more of these elusive intermediate-mass black holes.
Understand the Science
Astronomers using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) have detected an extraordinary burst of radio light from a rare cosmic event in which an intermediate-mass black hole tears apart a star, revealing what appears to be the off-axis afterglow of a powerful jet. The research is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Source: Hidden jet from a 'missing-link' black hole lights up the radio sky