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Long X‐Ray Observation Probes Black Hole Infall

OCT 01, 1999

What do you get if you look at an active galaxy for five days? The answer, in the form of this lopsided iron emission line, is compelling evidence of matter whirling closely and relativistically around a supermassive black hole. And, if you’re willing to bet on a 3‐sigma result, the small dip just below 6 keV provides the first tentative evidence of matter actually falling into a black hole.

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This Content Appeared In
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Volume 52, Number 10

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