Gravitational Wave Observations

First ‘Black Hole Triple’ System Discovered

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Achievements Of Indians In S&T
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Black Hole Triple and its formation

Scientists have discovered a “black hole triple” in space, marking the first time such a system has been identified.

Why in the News?

Scientists have discovered a “black hole triple” in space, marking the first time such a system has been identified.

Black Hole Triple: What does it mean?

  • Many black holes are found in binary systems with another star or black hole.
  • This triple system includes two stars orbiting a black hole:
    • The nearer star orbits the black hole every 6.5 days.
    • The distant star orbits approximately every 70,000 years.
  • The system, located in the constellation Cygnus, features V404 Cygni, one of the oldest black holes known, which is nine times larger than the Sun.
  • It is 8,000 light years away from Earth.

What is a Black Hole?

  • A black hole is a space region with such strong gravity that no light or matter can escape.
  • Most black holes form from supernova explosions—the death of massive stars.
  • This triple system suggests an alternative, less violent formation process.

How was it discovered?

  • Researchers from Caltech and MIT discovered the system while reviewing astronomical data from telescopes.
  • They described the stars as being gravitationally bound, indicating they form a triple system.
  • It is believed that  V404 Cygni did not form through a supernova explosion, which typically ejects outer stars.
  • Instead, it likely formed through direct collapse: the star collapsed inward without exploding.
  • Known as a “failed supernova”, this process causes an implosion without expelling matter, leading to a gentler black hole formation.

Future of the Triple System

  • The triple system may not remain as such, as V404 Cygni is consuming the nearby star.
  • This discovery suggests that some existing binary systems may have originally been triple systems, where the black hole later consumed one of its members.

PYQ:

[2019] Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?

(a) ‘Higgs boson particles’ were detected.
(b) ‘Gravitational waves’ were detected.
(c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through ‘wormhole’ was confirmed.
(d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’

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