X-ray telescope finds something unexpected with the 'heartbeat black hole'

image via Space.com

August 15, 2025, 6:00 PM

• •Unexpected X-ray polarization measurements of the "heartbeat" black hole IGR J17091-3624 challenge existing models of black hole behavior.
• •The observed high polarization degree, much greater than predicted, suggests either powerful winds scattering X-rays or an outward-moving corona.
• •These findings published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society offer new insights into black hole environments and challenge existing assumptions.

Astronomers are rethinking black hole behavior due to surprising X-ray polarization observations of IGR J17091-3624, the "heartbeat" black hole. The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) detected an unexpectedly high polarization degree, indicating a complex geometry within the black hole's corona. This challenges the standard understanding of how black holes function. Scientists are considering models involving powerful winds or an outward-moving corona to explain these peculiar observations, potentially reshaping our understanding of black hole environments.

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