# Astronomers Uncover Mechanism Behind High-Speed Black Hole Plasma Jets New observations of galaxy 3C 120 reveal how hot inner gas flows launch powerful jets. - **Source:** [Earth.com](https://www.earth.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [science](https://brifing.si/c/science) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/40c02248-64d4-4da4-b541-2cd03c7a6b01 ## Solving Jet Formation Mysteries Fast-feeding black holes typically produce thin, cold gas disks that theoretically prevent jet formation. However, researchers studying the galaxy 3C 120 found a surprising gap between the disk and the black hole. This region contains a hot, swollen cloud of plasma, providing the necessary conditions to launch high-speed jets. ## The 3C 120 Observation Led by Hirofumi Noda and Kazuhiro Hada, the team utilized the XRISM X-ray satellite in March 2025 to analyze iron atom signals. By observing the galaxy for 55 hours, they measured how gravity and motion smeared these signals, allowing them to pinpoint the inner edge of the gas disk precisely. ## Mapping the Gas Gap The data revealed the thin disk terminates approximately 1.6 billion kilometers from the black hole center, or 17 gravitational radii. Inside this void, gas transitions into a thick, extremely hot flow reaching hundreds of millions of degrees. This hot inner zone appears to be the critical engine for jet production. ## Global Radio Array Precision Five weeks after the X-ray study, 18 radio dishes across the globe formed the Global Millimeter VLBI Array to observe 3C 120. Linked over 9,500 kilometers, these telescopes resolved details as small as 50 millionths of an arcsecond, confirming the jet narrows significantly as it approaches the black hole's base. ## Misaligned Disk and Jet Measurements indicate the outer disk is tilted 31 degrees to our line of sight, while the jet is tilted only 19 degrees. This misalignment suggests the inner hot flow may wobble like a top around the spin axis. Researchers detected a potential daily flicker in X-ray brightness, possibly reflecting this motion. ## Alternative Pulse Explanations While a wobbling inner flow is a strong candidate for the observed daily X-ray pulses, magnetic field eruptions remain a possibility. These fields, packed tightly around the black hole, can produce bursts of energy on similar schedules. Further observation is required to distinguish between these two distinct physical phenomena. ## Spin as a Factor A hot inner flow is necessary but perhaps not sufficient for jet formation, as some fast-feeding black holes lack jets entirely. Black hole spin likely acts as the deciding factor. Unfortunately, the current study could not measure the spin of 3C 120 because the disk ends too far out. ## Broader Astrophysical Context While 3C 120 provides a specific case study, other galaxies like Centaurus A also exhibit high-speed plasma jets. Research from the University of Würzburg suggests these jets often appear brighter at their edges. Together, these findings refine our understanding of how extreme environments near supermassive black holes generate massive cosmic outflows. ## Sources covering this story - [Source — Simulations Reveal Secrets of Centaurus A Black Hole Jets](https://phys.org/news/2026-11-centaurus-spotlight-plasma-simulations-black.html) - [Earth.com — Astronomers Trace Powerful Black Hole Jet to Surprising Source](https://www.earth.com/space/astronomers-trace-a-black-holes-powerful-jet-to-a-surprising-source/) - [Universe Today — Astrophysicists Develop Predictive Model for Black Hole Jet Ejections](https://www.universetoday.com/articles/astrophysicists-want-to-forecast-when-a-black-hole-launches-its-jets) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._