Astronomers Decode Black Hole 'Heartbeats': Unraveling Cosmic Flickers

• Astronomers have explained the long-puzzling rhythmic signals, known as quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), observed in high-energy radiation near black holes.
• The research utilized advanced numerical simulations of black hole systems, focusing on matter extremely close to black holes and the radiation from surrounding accretion discs.
• The study, conducted by scientists from ARIES, MJPRU Bareilly, and international partners, modeled accretion flows using two-dimensional simulations with a relativistic equation of state.
• Results showed that gas flow forms unstable shock regions within the disc when viscosity reaches specific levels, causing regular oscillations that produce the observed flickering radiation patterns.
• These findings provide a physical explanation for low-frequency QPOs around stellar black holes, clarifying how extreme environments behave and advancing understanding of high-energy cosmic processes.

Why It Matters: Scientists have decoded black hole 'heartbeats,' explaining rhythmic flickers through advanced simulations of accretion disc shocks.