Supermassive black holes: Physicist to investigate with x-ray telescope

A University of Waterloo physicist, along with two Canadian astronomers will be part of the science working group directing ASTRO-H, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) newest flagship x-ray astronomy observatory.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Canada and Canadian astronomers,” says Brian McNamara, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy who also holds a University Research Chair in Astrophysics.

This artist's concept illustrates a supermassive black hole with millions to billions times the mass of our sun. Supermassive black holes are enormously dense objects buried at the hearts of galaxies. Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

First time Canada is part of x-ray astronomy mission

ASTRO-H marks the first time Canada is part of an x-ray astronomy mission, which is scheduled to launch in early 2016. The science working group will design the observatory’s science plan while also receiving privileged access to the proprietary data during the first year of operations. McNamara will specifically study the effects of black holes on emergent galaxies.

The telescope is designed to explore mysterious phenomena in unprecedented detail, such as black holes and their role in forming galaxies like our own Milky Way. It includes one of the most sensitive spectrometers aboard any orbiting x-ray observatory to date.

X-ray telescopes are perfect black hole detectors

X-ray telescopes offer an advantage over visible and radio-wave telescopes in that they can detect high-energy phenomena such as the radiation emitted by super hot gases travelling in the vicinity of a black hole. The black hole’s intense gravity causes these gases to reach velocities nearly the speed of light. When that happens, the gases emit radiation in the x-ray range.

“X-ray telescopes are the perfect black hole detectors,” says McNamara.

McNamara will be looking specifically at the speeds these gases are travelling to understand the energy generated by some of the most massive black holes in existence, including the one at the centre of our galaxy.

The vast majority of mass that accelerates towards a black hole is expelled back into space. The power needed to do this is enormous and may govern how galaxies form. According to McNamara, this x-ray telescope will allow us to observe this energy emission directly.

Black holes may exist at the centre of all massive galaxies

“Black holes are the most efficient power generators in the Universe,” said McNamara. “In fact, we think they [black holes] exist in the centres of all massive galaxies.”

Canada’s scientific participation was arranged in return for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) providing the critical Canadian ASTRO-H Metrology system (CAMS), an innovative measurement system for the observatory’s hard x-ray telescopes.

Joining McNamara are astronomers Dr. Luigi Gallo of Saint Mary’s University, who will lead Canada’s science team, and Dr. Samar Safi Harb of the University of Manitoba.

McNamara is also an affiliate member of the Perimeter Institute and Director of the Guelph-Waterloo Physics Institute.