Context: Astronomers have detected Iron (Fe K) X-ray emission lines from the binary black hole system in the radio galaxy 4C+37.11, 750 million light years away.
- This marks the first detection of X-rays in a binary system, providing insights into the black hole’s properties.
- Astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) detected Fe K spectral lines from ionized iron atoms in the binary Active Galactic Nucleus system using the Chandra Space Telescope.
- It is one of the few confirmed binary active galactic nuclei (bAGN)
- X-ray spectra from supermassive black holes (SMBHs) often exhibit emission lines from ionized elements like iron.
- These lines act as diagnostic tools, helping researchers understand the physical conditions surrounding SMBHs, such as gas temperature, density, and ionization state.
- The Fe K emission line is particularly crucial in studying the gas dynamics and radiation around these black holes.
About
- Iron K lines are important in astronomical X-ray spectra because they can be emitted efficiently by gas across a wide range of temperatures and ionization states.
- These lines appear in a relatively clear part of the spectrum, making them useful for studying plasma.
- They were first detected in observations of the supernova remnant Cas A (1973), X-ray binaries (1975-1977), and galaxy clusters (1977), revealing material from outside our galaxy.
- With orbiting X-ray detectors, these lines have been observed in many types of astronomical sources in the 5-10 keV energy range.
- They are especially important in studies of galaxies and black holes, where the lines are sometimes broadened and red-shifted due to formation near a black hole.