Unpredictable X-ray Emissions from Black Hole Jets Challenge Particle Acceleration Theory

X-ray emissions from black hole jets were found to vary over just a few years, challenging one leading theory of particle acceleration in the jets. The study analyzed archival data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and found rapid changes in X-ray emissions all along the length of the jets, suggesting particle acceleration is occurring all along the jet, at vast distances from the jet's origin at the black hole. The findings poke significant holes in one of the major theories for X-ray production in black hole jets, and researchers hope the paper spurs future work.