ARIES scientists show how black hole spin drives high-frequency X-ray flickering (QPOs) from accretion shocks
Scientists of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, showed through simulations that oscillating accretion shocks around spinning black holes can explain the wide range of quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) frequencies in X-rays, in a study published in the Journal of High Energy Astrophysics.
Summary
Scientists from the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, explained how matter around rapidly spinning black holes produces X-ray flickering called quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) across a broad range of frequencies, as announced on 23 October 2026. Using an ARIES-developed simulation of viscous accretion flows, they found that above a critical viscosity the shock in the accretion disc becomes unstable and oscillates, and that faster spin moves the shock closer to the black hole and makes the oscillations stronger. The work, led by Sanit Debnath and Dr. Indranil Chattopadhyay with partners from Poland's Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center and MJP Rohilkhand University, was published in the Journal of High Energy Astrophysics (JHEAP).
Key facts
- Institute
- Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), autonomous institute of DST
- Finding
- Oscillating accretion shocks around spinning black holes explain low- and high-frequency QPOs
- Key result
- Faster spin moves shock closer to the black hole and strengthens oscillations
- Method
- Simulation of viscous accretion flows (ARIES Numerical and Theoretical Astrophysics Group)
- Led by
- Sanit Debnath and Dr. Indranil Chattopadhyay
- Partners
- Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center (Poland), MJP Rohilkhand University (Bareilly)
- Journal
- Journal of High Energy Astrophysics (JHEAP)
Practice MCQs 1 questions
The October 2026 study explaining high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) around spinning black holes was carried out by scientists of which institute?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)