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Cui Y, Hada K, Kawashima T, Kino M, Lin W, Mizuno Y, Ro H, Honma M, Yi K, Yu J, Park J, Jiang W, Shen Z, Kravchenko E, Algaba JC, Cheng X, Cho I, Giovannini G, Giroletti M, Jung T, Lu RS, Niinuma K, Oh J, Ohsuga K, Sawada-Satoh S, Sohn BW, Takahashi HR, Takamura M, Tazaki F, Trippe S, Wajima K, Akiyama K, An T, Asada K, Buttaccio S, Byun DY, Cui L, Hagiwara Y, Hirota T, Hodgson J, Kawaguchi N, Kim JY, Lee SS, Lee JW, Lee JA, Maccaferri G, Melis A, Melnikov A, Migoni C, Oh SJ, Sugiyama K, Wang X, Zhang Y, Chen Z, Hwang JY, Jung DK, Kim HR, Kim JS, Kobayashi H, Li B, Li G, Li X, Liu Z, Liu Q, Liu X, Oh CS, Oyama T, Roh DG, Wang J, Wang N, Wang S, Xia B, Yan H, Yeom JH, Yonekura Y, Yuan J, Zhang H, Zhao R, Zhong W. Precessing jet nozzle connecting to a spinning black hole in M87. Nature 2023; 621:711-715. [PMID: 37758892 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06479-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The nearby radio galaxy M87 offers a unique opportunity to explore the connections between the central supermassive black hole and relativistic jets. Previous studies of the inner region of M87 revealed a wide opening angle for the jet originating near the black hole1-4. The Event Horizon Telescope resolved the central radio source and found an asymmetric ring structure consistent with expectations from general relativity5. With a baseline of 17 years of observations, there was a shift in the jet's transverse position, possibly arising from an 8- to 10-year quasi-periodicity3. However, the origin of this sideways shift remains unclear. Here we report an analysis of radio observations over 22 years that suggests a period of about 11 years for the variation in the position angle of the jet. We infer that we are seeing a spinning black hole that induces the Lense-Thirring precession of a misaligned accretion disk. Similar jet precession may commonly occur in other active galactic nuclei but has been challenging to detect owing to the small magnitude and long period of the variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhu Cui
- Research Center for Intelligent Computing Platforms, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou, China.
- Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
- Astronomical Science Program, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Mitaka, Japan.
- Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Oshu, Japan.
| | - Kazuhiro Hada
- Astronomical Science Program, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Mitaka, Japan
- Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Oshu, Japan
| | - Tomohisa Kawashima
- Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Motoki Kino
- Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Oshu, Japan
- Kogakuin University of Technology & Engineering, Academic Support Center, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Weikang Lin
- South-Western Institute For Astronomy Research, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Yosuke Mizuno
- Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Hyunwook Ro
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Astronomy, Yonsei University, Seodaemun-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Mareki Honma
- Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Oshu, Japan
- Department of Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Japan
| | - Kunwoo Yi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jintao Yu
- Department of Intelligence, Air Force Early Warning Academy, Wuhan, China
| | - Jongho Park
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Hilo, HI, USA
| | - Wu Jiang
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Shen
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Juan-Carlos Algaba
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Xiaopeng Cheng
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ilje Cho
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía - CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, Granada, Spain
| | - Gabriele Giovannini
- DIFA Bologna University, Bologna, Italy
- INAF-Istituto di Radioastronomia, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Taehyun Jung
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ru-Sen Lu
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kotaro Niinuma
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
- The Research Institute for Time Studies, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Junghwan Oh
- Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC, Dwingeloo, the Netherlands
| | - Ken Ohsuga
- Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | | | - Bong Won Sohn
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Astronomy, Yonsei University, Seodaemun-gu, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hiroyuki R Takahashi
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Komazawa University, Setagaya, Japan
| | - Mieko Takamura
- Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Oshu, Japan
- Department of Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Japan
| | - Fumie Tazaki
- Tokyo Electron Technology Solutions Limited, Oshu City, Japan
| | - Sascha Trippe
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Republic of Korea
- SNU Astronomy Research Center, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kiyoaki Wajima
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kazunori Akiyama
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA, USA
- Black Hole Initiative at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tao An
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Keiichi Asada
- Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Hilo, HI, USA
| | | | - Do-Young Byun
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Lang Cui
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | | | - Tomoya Hirota
- Astronomical Science Program, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Mitaka, Japan
- Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Oshu, Japan
| | - Jeffrey Hodgson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Noriyuki Kawaguchi
- Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Oshu, Japan
| | - Jae-Young Kim
- Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Sung Lee
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- University of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Won Lee
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Ae Lee
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Andrea Melis
- INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, Selargius, CA, Italy
| | - Alexey Melnikov
- Institute of Applied Astronomy, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Carlo Migoni
- INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, Selargius, CA, Italy
| | - Se-Jin Oh
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Koichiro Sugiyama
- National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), Chiangmai, Thailand
| | - Xuezheng Wang
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingkang Zhang
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ju-Yeon Hwang
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Kyu Jung
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Ryoung Kim
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Sook Kim
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hideyuki Kobayashi
- Astronomical Science Program, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Mitaka, Japan
| | - Bin Li
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guanghui Li
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Xiaofei Li
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Qinghui Liu
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Chung-Sik Oh
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Tomoaki Oyama
- Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Oshu, Japan
| | - Duk-Gyoo Roh
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinqing Wang
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Na Wang
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Shiqiang Wang
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Bo Xia
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Yan
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Jae-Hwan Yeom
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Jianping Yuan
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Rongbing Zhao
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weiye Zhong
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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