科技日报北京2月24日电 （记者张梦然）天文学家观测到已知宇宙中能量最强的"激光"——微波激 射现象。该信号源自一个距离地球约80亿光年的星系H1429-0028，由两个星系在碰撞合并过程中产 生，是迄今为止发现的最明亮且最遥远的微波激射实例。 微波激射的产生机制与激光相似：特定物质（如羟基离子）的原子被激发至高能态后，在受到入射 光子触发时，会释放出相同频率的光子，从而形成高度一致的相干光束。在星系合并过程中，大量星际 气体受到剧烈挤压，触发新一轮恒星形成并释放出强烈辐射。这些辐射穿过星系中的尘埃云，能够将其 中的羟基离子激发到高能级。当这些处于激发态的离子再受到来自星系核心超大质量黑洞等的射电波冲 击时，便会瞬间释放出异常明亮且高度聚焦的微波辐射束，这一机制被称为"微波激射器"。 南非比勒陀利亚大学的罗杰·迪恩及其团队利用位于南非的MeerKAT射电望远镜阵列进行了这项观 测。该阵列由64台相互连接的射电望远镜组成一个巨大天线，接收微弱的宇宙信号。研究团队在观测星 系H1429-0028时，于1667兆赫兹频率上检测到异常强烈的发射信号，该特征明确指向了微波激射过 程。得益于该星系与地球之间另一个大质量星 ...

原标题：最明亮最遥远的微波激射现象发现信号源自距地球约80亿光年星系 微波激射的产生机制与激光相似：特定物质（如羟基离子）的原子被激发至高能态后，在受到入射光子 触发时，会释放出相同频率的光子，从而形成高度一致的相干光束。在星系合并过程中，大量星际气体 受到剧烈挤压，触发新一轮恒星形成并释放出强烈辐射。这些辐射穿过星系中的尘埃云，能够将其中的 羟基离子激发到高能级。当这些处于激发态的离子再受到来自星系核心超大质量黑洞等的射电波冲击 时，便会瞬间释放出异常明亮且高度聚焦的微波辐射束，这一机制被称为"微波激射器"。 遥远太空中两个星系碰撞合并，产生了宇宙 最强"激光"。 图片由AI生成 天文学家观测到已知宇宙中能量最强的"激光"——微波激射现象。该信号源自一个距离地球约80亿光年 的星系H1429-0028，由两个星系在碰撞合并过程中产生，是迄今为止发现的最明亮且最遥远的微波激 射实例。 南非比勒陀利亚大学的罗杰·迪恩及其团队利用位于南非的MeerKAT射电望远镜阵列进行了这项观测。 该阵列由64台相互连接的射电望远镜组成一个巨大天线，接收微弱的宇宙信号。研究团队在观测星系 H1429-0028时，于1667兆赫 ...

Core Viewpoint - A joint team from the University of Portsmouth and the Federal University of Brazil has discovered the largest black hole to date, located in the "Cosmic Horseshoe" galaxy, with a mass of 36 billion times that of the Sun, approaching the theoretical limit for black hole mass [1]. Group 1 - The innovative method used by the research team combines gravitational lensing effects with stellar kinematics analysis, which is considered the gold standard for measuring black hole mass [1][4]. - The team detected that the black hole altered the path of light passing nearby and that stars in the core region of the host galaxy are moving at nearly 400 kilometers per second [3]. - This method is particularly effective in detecting "dormant" black holes that are not actively accreting material, opening new avenues for discovering more supermassive black holes [4]. Group 2 - The discovery is significant for understanding the symbiotic relationship between galaxies and their central supermassive black holes, where galaxies supply material to the black holes, leading to their growth and influencing the evolution of the entire galaxy [4]. - The team plans to use the Euclid space telescope to search for more supermassive black holes and reveal their role in the process of star formation [5].

Core Insights - Astronomers have discovered a black hole with a mass approximately 36.3 billion times that of the Sun, potentially the largest black hole detected to date [1][3] Group 1: Discovery and Measurement - The black hole is located in the "Cosmic Horseshoe" galaxy, which is one of the most massive known galaxies [1] - The research team, led by Professor Thomas Collett from the University of Portsmouth, measured the speed of stars orbiting the black hole and the degree of light bending caused by its gravity to confirm its existence [3] - The black hole's mass was determined through a combination of these measurements, with stars moving at speeds nearly reaching 400 kilometers per second [3] Group 2: Implications and Context - The discovery aligns with previous research indicating that a supermassive black hole must exist at the center of the "Cosmic Horseshoe" for the model of dark matter distribution to match observational data [3] - This black hole is categorized as a "sleeping" black hole, meaning it is not actively accreting material, and its detection relies solely on its immense gravitational influence [3][4] - The findings provide new insights into the relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies, suggesting that the black hole may have formed from the merger of supermassive black holes from satellite galaxies [4]