Black hole lightning due to particle acceleration at subhorizon scales

J. Aleksić; S. Ansoldi; L. A. Antonelli; P. Antoranz; A. Babic; P. Bangale; J. A. Barrio; J. Becerra González; W. Bednarek; E. Bernardini; B. Biasuzzi; A. Bil; O. Blanch; S. Bonnefoy; G. Bonnoli; F. Borracci; T. Bretz; E. Carmona; A. Carosi; P. Colin; E. Colombo; J. L. Contreras; J. Cortina; S. Covino; P. Da Vela; F. Dazzi; A. De Angelis; G. De Caneva; B. De Lotto; E. De Oña Wilhelmi; C. Delgado Mendez; D. Dominis Prester; D. Dorner; M. Doro; S. Einecke; D. Eisenacher; D. Elsaesser; M. V. Fonseca; L. Font; K. Frantzen; C. Fruck; D. Galindo; R. J.García López; M. Garczarczyk; D. Garrido Terrats; M. Gaug; N. Godinoviæ; A. González Muñoz; S. R. Gozzini; D. Hadasch; Y. Hanabata; M. Hayashida; J. Herrera; D. Hildebr; J. Hose; D. Hrupec; W. Idec; V. Kadenius; H. Kellermann; K. Kodani; Y. Konno; J. Krause; H. Kubo; J. Kushida; A. La Barbera; D. Lelas; N. Lewowska; E. Lindfors; S. Lombardi; F. Longo; M. López; R. López-Coto; A. López-Oramas; E. Lorenz; I. Lozano; M. Makariev; K. Mallot; G. Maneva; N. Mankuzhiyil; K. Mannheim; L. Maraschi; B. Marcote; M. Mariotti; M. Martínez; D. Mazin; U. Menzel; J. M. Mira; R. Mirzoyan; A. Moralejo; P. Munar-Adrover; D. Nakajima; A. Niedzwiecki; K. Nilsson; K. Nishijima; K. Noda; R. Orito; A. Overkemping; S. Paiano; M. Palatiello; D. Paneque

doi:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1256183

Black hole lightning due to particle acceleration at subhorizon scales

J. Aleksić, S. Ansoldi, L. A. Antonelli, P. Antoranz, A. Babic, P. Bangale, J. A. Barrio, J. Becerra González, W. Bednarek, E. Bernardini, B. Biasuzzi, A. Bil, O. Blanch, S. Bonnefoy, G. Bonnoli, F. Borracci, T. Bretz, E. Carmona, A. Carosi, P. ColinE. Colombo, J. L. Contreras, J. Cortina, S. Covino, P. Da Vela, F. Dazzi, A. De Angelis, G. De Caneva, B. De Lotto, E. De Oña Wilhelmi, C. Delgado Mendez, D. Dominis Prester, D. Dorner, M. Doro, S. Einecke, D. Eisenacher, D. Elsaesser, M. V. Fonseca, L. Font, K. Frantzen, C. Fruck, D. Galindo, R. J.García López, M. Garczarczyk, D. Garrido Terrats, M. Gaug, N. Godinoviæ, A. González Muñoz, S. R. Gozzini, D. Hadasch, Y. Hanabata, M. Hayashida, J. Herrera, D. Hildebr, J. Hose, D. Hrupec, W. Idec, V. Kadenius, H. Kellermann, K. Kodani, Y. Konno, J. Krause, H. Kubo, J. Kushida, A. La Barbera, D. Lelas, N. Lewowska, E. Lindfors, S. Lombardi, F. Longo, M. López, R. López-Coto, A. López-Oramas, E. Lorenz, I. Lozano, M. Makariev, K. Mallot, G. Maneva, N. Mankuzhiyil, K. Mannheim, L. Maraschi, B. Marcote, M. Mariotti, M. Martínez, D. Mazin, U. Menzel, J. M. Mira, R. Mirzoyan, A. Moralejo, P. Munar-Adrover, D. Nakajima, A. Niedzwiecki, K. Nilsson, K. Nishijima, K. Noda, R. Orito, A. Overkemping, S. Paiano, M. Palatiello, D. Paneque

Institut de Física d'Altes Energies (IFAE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

138 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Copyright 2014 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science; all rights reserved. Supermassive black holes with masses of millions to billions of solar masses are commonly found in the centers of galaxies. Astronomers seek to image jet formation using radio interferometry but still suffer from insufficient angular resolution. An alternative method to resolve small structures is to measure the time variability of their emission. Here we report on gamma-ray observations of the radio galaxy IC 310 obtained with the MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) telescopes, revealing variability with doubling time scales faster than 4.8 min. Causality constrains the size of the emission region to be smaller than 20% of the gravitational radius of its central black hole.We suggest that the emission is associated with pulsar-like particle acceleration by the electric field across a magnetospheric gap at the base of the radio jet.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1080-1084
Journal	Science
Volume	346
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1256183
Publication status	Published - 28 Nov 2014

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Aleksić, J., Ansoldi, S., Antonelli, L. A., Antoranz, P., Babic, A., Bangale, P., Barrio, J. A., González, J. B., Bednarek, W., Bernardini, E., Biasuzzi, B., Bil, A., Blanch, O., Bonnefoy, S., Bonnoli, G., Borracci, F., Bretz, T., Carmona, E., Carosi, A., ... Paneque, D. (2014). Black hole lightning due to particle acceleration at subhorizon scales. Science, 346, 1080-1084. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1256183

@article{df4e7fd8c6c54732b7ff3bc8e6f790a7,

title = "Black hole lightning due to particle acceleration at subhorizon scales",

abstract = "Copyright 2014 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science; all rights reserved. Supermassive black holes with masses of millions to billions of solar masses are commonly found in the centers of galaxies. Astronomers seek to image jet formation using radio interferometry but still suffer from insufficient angular resolution. An alternative method to resolve small structures is to measure the time variability of their emission. Here we report on gamma-ray observations of the radio galaxy IC 310 obtained with the MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) telescopes, revealing variability with doubling time scales faster than 4.8 min. Causality constrains the size of the emission region to be smaller than 20% of the gravitational radius of its central black hole.We suggest that the emission is associated with pulsar-like particle acceleration by the electric field across a magnetospheric gap at the base of the radio jet.",

author = "J. Aleksi{\'c} and S. Ansoldi and Antonelli, {L. A.} and P. Antoranz and A. Babic and P. Bangale and Barrio, {J. A.} and Gonz{\'a}lez, {J. Becerra} and W. Bednarek and E. Bernardini and B. Biasuzzi and A. Bil and O. Blanch and S. Bonnefoy and G. Bonnoli and F. Borracci and T. Bretz and E. Carmona and A. Carosi and P. Colin and E. Colombo and Contreras, {J. L.} and J. Cortina and S. Covino and {Da Vela}, P. and F. Dazzi and {De Angelis}, A. and {De Caneva}, G. and {De Lotto}, B. and {De O{\~n}a Wilhelmi}, E. and Mendez, {C. Delgado} and Prester, {D. Dominis} and D. Dorner and M. Doro and S. Einecke and D. Eisenacher and D. Elsaesser and Fonseca, {M. V.} and L. Font and K. Frantzen and C. Fruck and D. Galindo and L{\'o}pez, {R. J.Garc{\'i}a} and M. Garczarczyk and Terrats, {D. Garrido} and M. Gaug and N. Godinovi{\ae} and Mu{\~n}oz, {A. Gonz{\'a}lez} and Gozzini, {S. R.} and D. Hadasch and Y. Hanabata and M. Hayashida and J. Herrera and D. Hildebr and J. Hose and D. Hrupec and W. Idec and V. Kadenius and H. Kellermann and K. Kodani and Y. Konno and J. Krause and H. Kubo and J. Kushida and Barbera, {A. La} and D. Lelas and N. Lewowska and E. Lindfors and S. Lombardi and F. Longo and M. L{\'o}pez and R. L{\'o}pez-Coto and A. L{\'o}pez-Oramas and E. Lorenz and I. Lozano and M. Makariev and K. Mallot and G. Maneva and N. Mankuzhiyil and K. Mannheim and L. Maraschi and B. Marcote and M. Mariotti and M. Mart{\'i}nez and D. Mazin and U. Menzel and Mira, {J. M.} and R. Mirzoyan and A. Moralejo and P. Munar-Adrover and D. Nakajima and A. Niedzwiecki and K. Nilsson and K. Nishijima and K. Noda and R. Orito and A. Overkemping and S. Paiano and M. Palatiello and D. Paneque",

year = "2014",

month = nov,

day = "28",

doi = "https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1256183",

language = "English",

volume = "346",

pages = "1080--1084",

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Aleksić, J, Ansoldi, S, Antonelli, LA, Antoranz, P, Babic, A, Bangale, P, Barrio, JA, González, JB, Bednarek, W, Bernardini, E, Biasuzzi, B, Bil, A, Blanch, O, Bonnefoy, S, Bonnoli, G, Borracci, F, Bretz, T, Carmona, E, Carosi, A, Colin, P, Colombo, E, Contreras, JL, Cortina, J, Covino, S, Da Vela, P, Dazzi, F, De Angelis, A, De Caneva, G, De Lotto, B, De Oña Wilhelmi, E, Mendez, CD, Prester, DD, Dorner, D, Doro, M, Einecke, S, Eisenacher, D, Elsaesser, D, Fonseca, MV, Font, L, Frantzen, K, Fruck, C, Galindo, D, López, RJG, Garczarczyk, M, Terrats, DG, Gaug, M, Godinoviæ, N, Muñoz, AG, Gozzini, SR, Hadasch, D, Hanabata, Y, Hayashida, M, Herrera, J, Hildebr, D, Hose, J, Hrupec, D, Idec, W, Kadenius, V, Kellermann, H, Kodani, K, Konno, Y, Krause, J, Kubo, H, Kushida, J, Barbera, AL, Lelas, D, Lewowska, N, Lindfors, E, Lombardi, S, Longo, F, López, M, López-Coto, R, López-Oramas, A, Lorenz, E, Lozano, I, Makariev, M, Mallot, K, Maneva, G, Mankuzhiyil, N, Mannheim, K, Maraschi, L, Marcote, B, Mariotti, M, Martínez, M, Mazin, D, Menzel, U, Mira, JM, Mirzoyan, R, Moralejo, A, Munar-Adrover, P, Nakajima, D, Niedzwiecki, A, Nilsson, K, Nishijima, K, Noda, K, Orito, R, Overkemping, A, Paiano, S, Palatiello, M & Paneque, D 2014, 'Black hole lightning due to particle acceleration at subhorizon scales', Science, vol. 346, pp. 1080-1084. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1256183

TY - JOUR

T1 - Black hole lightning due to particle acceleration at subhorizon scales

AU - Aleksić, J.

AU - Ansoldi, S.

AU - Antonelli, L. A.

AU - Antoranz, P.

AU - Babic, A.

AU - Bangale, P.

AU - Barrio, J. A.

AU - González, J. Becerra

AU - Bednarek, W.

AU - Bernardini, E.

AU - Biasuzzi, B.

AU - Bil, A.

AU - Blanch, O.

AU - Bonnefoy, S.

AU - Bonnoli, G.

AU - Borracci, F.

AU - Bretz, T.

AU - Carmona, E.

AU - Carosi, A.

AU - Colin, P.

AU - Colombo, E.

AU - Contreras, J. L.

AU - Cortina, J.

AU - Covino, S.

AU - Da Vela, P.

AU - Dazzi, F.

AU - De Angelis, A.

AU - De Caneva, G.

AU - De Lotto, B.

AU - De Oña Wilhelmi, E.

AU - Mendez, C. Delgado

AU - Prester, D. Dominis

AU - Dorner, D.

AU - Doro, M.

AU - Einecke, S.

AU - Eisenacher, D.

AU - Elsaesser, D.

AU - Fonseca, M. V.

AU - Font, L.

AU - Frantzen, K.

AU - Fruck, C.

AU - Galindo, D.

AU - López, R. J.García

AU - Garczarczyk, M.

AU - Terrats, D. Garrido

AU - Gaug, M.

AU - Godinoviæ, N.

AU - Muñoz, A. González

AU - Gozzini, S. R.

AU - Hadasch, D.

AU - Hanabata, Y.

AU - Hayashida, M.

AU - Herrera, J.

AU - Hildebr, D.

AU - Hose, J.

AU - Hrupec, D.

AU - Idec, W.

AU - Kadenius, V.

AU - Kellermann, H.

AU - Kodani, K.

AU - Konno, Y.

AU - Krause, J.

AU - Kubo, H.

AU - Kushida, J.

AU - Barbera, A. La

AU - Lelas, D.

AU - Lewowska, N.

AU - Lindfors, E.

AU - Lombardi, S.

AU - Longo, F.

AU - López, M.

AU - López-Coto, R.

AU - López-Oramas, A.

AU - Lorenz, E.

AU - Lozano, I.

AU - Makariev, M.

AU - Mallot, K.

AU - Maneva, G.

AU - Mankuzhiyil, N.

AU - Mannheim, K.

AU - Maraschi, L.

AU - Marcote, B.

AU - Mariotti, M.

AU - Martínez, M.

AU - Mazin, D.

AU - Menzel, U.

AU - Mira, J. M.

AU - Mirzoyan, R.

AU - Moralejo, A.

AU - Munar-Adrover, P.

AU - Nakajima, D.

AU - Niedzwiecki, A.

AU - Nilsson, K.

AU - Nishijima, K.

AU - Noda, K.

AU - Orito, R.

AU - Overkemping, A.

AU - Paiano, S.

AU - Palatiello, M.

AU - Paneque, D.

PY - 2014/11/28

Y1 - 2014/11/28

N2 - Copyright 2014 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science; all rights reserved. Supermassive black holes with masses of millions to billions of solar masses are commonly found in the centers of galaxies. Astronomers seek to image jet formation using radio interferometry but still suffer from insufficient angular resolution. An alternative method to resolve small structures is to measure the time variability of their emission. Here we report on gamma-ray observations of the radio galaxy IC 310 obtained with the MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) telescopes, revealing variability with doubling time scales faster than 4.8 min. Causality constrains the size of the emission region to be smaller than 20% of the gravitational radius of its central black hole.We suggest that the emission is associated with pulsar-like particle acceleration by the electric field across a magnetospheric gap at the base of the radio jet.

AB - Copyright 2014 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science; all rights reserved. Supermassive black holes with masses of millions to billions of solar masses are commonly found in the centers of galaxies. Astronomers seek to image jet formation using radio interferometry but still suffer from insufficient angular resolution. An alternative method to resolve small structures is to measure the time variability of their emission. Here we report on gamma-ray observations of the radio galaxy IC 310 obtained with the MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) telescopes, revealing variability with doubling time scales faster than 4.8 min. Causality constrains the size of the emission region to be smaller than 20% of the gravitational radius of its central black hole.We suggest that the emission is associated with pulsar-like particle acceleration by the electric field across a magnetospheric gap at the base of the radio jet.

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1256183

DO - https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1256183

M3 - Article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 346

SP - 1080

EP - 1084

JO - Science

JF - Science

ER -

Black hole lightning due to particle acceleration at subhorizon scales

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