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.

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