Scientists have observed a rare celestial phenomenon that supports a groundbreaking model of black hole behaviour
A team of astrophysicists from Syracuse University, MIT, and the Space Telescope Science Institute successfully predicted and observed the dramatic dimming of a distant light source known as AT2018fyk, located approximately 860 million light-years away from Earth.
Tidal Disruption Event (TDE)
This celestial object, originally detected in 2018, has been identified as a repeating partial Tidal Disruption Event (TDE). TDEs occur when a star ventures too close to a supermassive black hole, resulting in its violent destruction.
Unlike typical TDEs where the star is completely consumed, AT2018fyk’s core survived multiple encounters with the black hole, enabling it to continue orbiting and undergoing repeated shredding.
Using advanced modelling techniques, the research team accurately predicted that AT2018fyk would undergo a significant dimming phase in August 2023. This forecast was verified when observations from NASA’s Swift and Chandra X-ray telescopes, alongside the European XMM-Newton mission, confirmed a drop in X-ray flux starting on August 14, 2023. This observation is crucial as it validates the team’s theoretical framework and provides new insights into the dynamics of stars interacting with supermassive black holes.
The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, highlights the capability of modern telescopes to peer deep into the cosmos and monitor subtle changes in luminosity. By studying these changes, scientists can glean valuable information about the properties of the stars and the black holes, shedding light on some of the universe’s most extreme environments.
Monitorning AT2018fyk
AT2018fyk’s unique behaviour challenges conventional wisdom about TDEs, which are typically considered one-time events due to the destructive nature of black hole encounters. The discovery of a repeating partial TDE opens new avenues for understanding how stars interact with supermassive black holes over extended periods.
As astronomers continue to monitor AT2018fyk, they anticipate another brightening event between May and August 2025, followed potentially by a third dimming phase in 2027. These future observations deepen our understanding of the intricate interplay between stars and black holes, offering unprecedented insights into the physics that govern our universe.
Confirming the predicted dimming of AT2018fyk marks a significant milestone in astrophysical research, showcasing the power of predictive modelling and observational astronomy to unlock the mysteries of black hole dynamics on cosmic scales.
