X-ray Echoes Map a Black Hole’s Disk

The video discusses the observation of a tidal disruption event in a distant galaxy, where a star is torn apart by a supermassive black hole. This event allows researchers to study normally dormant black holes through the formation of a temporary accretion disk. A new technique, X-ray reverberation mapping, is introduced to probe the inner regions of these black holes. The method reveals that X-ray emissions originate from close to the black hole, providing insights into its mass and structure. These findings enhance our understanding of black holes and tidal disruption events.

How do tidal disruption events provide insights into dormant supermassive black holes?

What findings were made regarding the mass of the black hole studied in the observations?