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HEA > ASCA > Scientific Results > Gravitational Effect

(1) Gravitational effect of massive black hole

The Fe line profile of K-alpha in the X-ray emission from the active nucleus of the galaxy MCG 6-30-15 in the constellation Centaurs is powered by matter swirling into a black hole.

SN1006 flux spectrum

The X-ray emission from a small trace of iron in the flow is found to be highly distorted in a manner consistent with the enormous gravitational pull expected close to a black hole. The emission line is very broad and the full width at zero intensity corresponds to about 100,000 km/s.

There is marked asymmetry at energies lower than the rest energy of the emission line. The most plausible mechanisms which can produce this line profile are Doppler and gravitaional shifts close to a central black hole.

This is the first time that a direct measurement has been made on the effects of such strong gravity.

Next: (2) Identification of particle acceleration sites


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