# ALMA Telescope Detects Gigantic Molecular Jet from LMC P3 Microquasar Researchers identified a 26-light-year-long heated gas streak confirming a powerful microquasar jet mechanism. - **Source:** [Universe Today](https://www.universetoday.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [science](https://brifing.si/c/science) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/943e30a2-039f-481c-a97c-01eae834677f ## Discovery of LMC P3 LMC P3 is a luminous gamma-ray binary located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, discovered in 2016. It consists of a massive O-type star and a compact object orbiting every 10.3 days. As the first such system found outside our galaxy, it remains a primary subject for high-energy astrophysics research. ## The ALMA Observation Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array in Chile, researchers analyzed carbon monoxide emissions near LMC P3. They identified a distinct, straight streak of gas measuring 26 light-years long and three light-years wide. This structure is significantly warmer than the surrounding 15 Kelvin environment, indicating an external heating source. ## Evidence of Jet Activity The streak's temperature, ranging from 35 to 60 Kelvin, suggests it is being heated by a high-energy jet originating from the compact object. Since no nearby stars could account for this thermal signature, the jet provides a physical mechanism to explain the system's intense gamma-ray emissions observed by telescopes. ## Microquasar Mechanism Explained A microquasar features a compact object, either a black hole or neutron star, pulling material from a companion star. This matter forms a swirling accretion disk that launches high-speed jets. The discovery of this cold molecular jet strongly supports the theory that LMC P3 functions as a stellar-sized quasar. ## Black Hole Hypothesis Yasuo Fukui and his team suggest the system's exceptionally high gamma-ray output points toward a black hole rather than a neutron star. Black holes typically drive more powerful jets than neutron stars. This evidence strengthens the case that LMC P3 contains a stellar-mass black hole formed from a supernova. ## Competing Scientific Theories Before this discovery, two theories dominated: pulsar winds or microquasar jets. The pulsar model relies on a spinning neutron star emitting particles. However, the detection of the large-scale molecular jet provides empirical support for the microquasar model, effectively shifting the scientific consensus toward the accretion disk-driven jet explanation. ## Methodology and Detection The jet itself remains invisible to current radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray instruments. Researchers instead mapped the 'shock heating' of surrounding gas clouds. This indirect detection method successfully revealed the jet's path, proving that carbon monoxide mapping is a viable strategy for locating hidden microquasars in dusty galactic regions. ## Broader Astrophysical Implications LMC P3 is only the second object where such a carbon monoxide streak has been identified, following HESS J1023-575 in the Milky Way. This technique offers a new way to find microquasars in gas-rich environments. Future studies will likely focus on similar streaks to map high-energy jets across the galaxy. ## Sources covering this story - [Universe Today — ALMA Reveals a Gigantic Cold Molecular Jet from a Microquasar](https://www.universetoday.com/articles/alma-reveals-a-jet-of-cool-gas-from-a-microquasar) - [Earth.com — Astronomers Identify Potential Jet Powering LMC P3 Gamma-Ray Binary](https://www.earth.com/lifestyle/what-is-fueling-the-brightest-gamma-ray-star-pair-ever-found/) --- _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._