Work

Co-precession of a curved jet and compact accretion disk in M87

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Observational constraints on the configuration of the black hole (BH)–accretion disk–jet system are crucial to understanding BH spin, accretion disk physics and jet formation. The recently reported variation in the position angle of the M87 jet provides a new avenue for exploring these long-standing issues. The observed ~11-year periodicity, spanning over two cycles, is consistent with the Lense–Thirring precession of a compact, tilted accretion disk. However, how such a compact region decouples from the larger-scale accretion flow remains an open question in current numerical simulations. The jet precession challenges the traditional view of a strictly collimated jet by revealing a subtle curvature in the inner regions of the jet that dynamically links the jet to the spinning BH and successfully accounts for its unexpectedly wide inner projected profile. Although continued long-term observations are needed to distinguish coherent precession from stochastic fluctuations in the disk or jet orientation, these results open a new window for probing BH systems through coordinated multiscale observations and follow-on theoretical models.

Source: Nature Astronomy

DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02580-0

Authors: Yuzhu Cui, Weikang Lin

Institutions: Central China Normal University, Zhejiang Lab, Yunnan University

Language: English

Topic: Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $12,690

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Yunnan University