Astrophysicists Uncover Novel Filament Structures at the Heart of the Milky Way

A groundbreaking discovery has been made by an international team of astrophysicists at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. In the early 1980s, Farhad Yusef-Zadeh from Northwestern University first identified colossal one-dimensional filaments situated vertically near Sagittarius A*, our galaxy's central supermassive black hole. Yusef-Zadeh, along with his colleagues, have now unveiled a new batch of filaments that are considerably shorter and positioned horizontally or radially, extending outward like wheel spokes from the black hole. Despite sharing some commonalities, researchers believe the two filament populations have distinct origins.

The research, spanning four decades, has uncovered nearly 1,000 vertical filaments that appear in pairs or groups, often arranged symmetrically or side by side, resembling harp strings. Although both filament populations are one-dimensional, detectable by radio waves, and seemingly connected to activities within the Galactic center, their similarities end there.

Contrasting Filament Characteristics

While vertical filaments align perpendicularly to the galactic plane, horizontal filaments run parallel to the plane and point radially toward the galaxy's center where the black hole resides. Vertical filaments possess magnetic and relativistic properties, whereas horizontal filaments seem to emit thermal radiation. Vertical filaments encompass particles traveling at near light-speed, while horizontal filaments seem to accelerate thermal matter within a molecular cloud. There are several hundred vertical filaments versus only a few hundred horizontal ones. Additionally, the vertical filaments, reaching up to 150 light-years in height, dwarf the horizontal filaments, which span just 5 to 10 light-years in length. Vertical filaments also outline the space surrounding the galaxy's core.

This new discovery presents numerous unknowns, and the scientific quest to decipher its enigmas has only just commenced. The study has received support from NASA, and we eagerly anticipate further revelations.

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