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Proving That Black Holes Exist In Space EasierPASADENA, Calif. (AP) — The chances that astronomers wiil be able to prove the existence of invisible black holes in space are becoming greater, two scientists report.After four years of study, there are encouraging indications of agreement between theory and observations, said Dr. Kip Thorne, professor of theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology, and Dr. Richard H. Price, assistant professor of physics at the University of Utah.In the current Astrophysical Journal Letters, the scientists suggest further observations of what they say is the most likely candidate for a black hole, the strong X-ray source in CygnusX-l.Cygnus X-l is a double object about 7,500 light years from earth. It consists of a bright star and an unseen X-ray source about one-tenth as far from the star as the earth is from the sun.Astronomers believe lhat there are many black holes in the universe.In theory, a black hole is the remains of a burned-out star. Once it exhausted its nuclear fuel, it collapsed inward with such tremendous velocity that it became very small, perhapsonly 30 miles in diameter.' Its matter is so tightly compacted and its gravity so strong that not even light can escape. Hence, it becomes a black hole in space.Black holes involve extremes not encountered in ordinary stars, such as extremely condensed matter, tremendous gravitational energy, enormous temperatures sufficient to generate X-rays and a very rapid spin. It may rotate as fast as 100,000 miles a second.I .Spectroscopic observations of Cygnus X-l show that glowing gas is continually being pulled off the bright, visible star toward the optically invisible object. That object, presumably the black hole, is “visibte’' in X-rays emitted from the source. .£'• ■We are beginning to get concrete agreements between details of observations and details of theory,” Dr. Thorne said. ‘‘And those agreements pQint to what direction we should go to strengthen the theory and to strengthen the observations.”He said, “I’m about 80 per cent convinced that Cygnus X-l contains a black hole.- Future confrontations between ' observations and theory :'.;maystrengthen that conviction — or may destroy it.” /'.
Newspaper Details
Danville Register
Danville, Virginia, US
Sun, Feb 23, 1975
Page 12
Full Page
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Library O.
USA 02 Apr 2019
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