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Chandra X-ray Image of GRS 1915+105
Chandra has observed the micro-quasar GRS 1915+105 eleven times since its launch in 1999. These studies reveal that the jet in GRS 1915 may be periodically choked off when a hot wind, seen in X-rays, is driven off the accretion disk around the black hole (view animation). The wind is believed to shut down the jet by depriving it of matter that would have otherwise fueled it. Conversely, once the wind dies down, the jet can re-emerge. These results suggest that these black holes have a mechanism for regulating the rate at which they grow.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/Harvard/J.Neilsen)
Chandra has observed the micro-quasar GRS 1915+105 eleven times since its launch in 1999. These studies reveal that the jet in GRS 1915 may be periodically choked off when a hot wind, seen in X-rays, is driven off the accretion disk around the black hole (view animation). The wind is believed to shut down the jet by depriving it of matter that would have otherwise fueled it. Conversely, once the wind dies down, the jet can re-emerge. These results suggest that these black holes have a mechanism for regulating the rate at which they grow.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/Harvard/J.Neilsen)
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DSS Optical/Infrared & Chandra X-ray Images of GRS 1915+105
These optical and infrared images from the Digitized Sky Survey show a large crowded field around the microquasar GRS 1915+105 (GRS 1915 for short), located near the plane of our galaxy. The Chandra data (small purple source near the center of the images) show one of the brightest X-ray sources in the Milky Way galaxy.
(Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/Harvard/J.Neilsen); Optical & IR (Palomar DSS2))
These optical and infrared images from the Digitized Sky Survey show a large crowded field around the microquasar GRS 1915+105 (GRS 1915 for short), located near the plane of our galaxy. The Chandra data (small purple source near the center of the images) show one of the brightest X-ray sources in the Milky Way galaxy.
(Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/Harvard/J.Neilsen); Optical & IR (Palomar DSS2))
3
Stills from Animation of Jet and Wind around GRS 1915+105
These animation stills show how radio jets may be suppressed in the micro- quasar GRS 1915. Material is being pulled from a red companion star into a black hole via a blue, rapidly rotating disk. The animation begins with a jet blowing material away from the black hole. Later, when the disk is heated by powerful radiation from close to the black hole, a wind is driven off the disk. As the wind strengthens, the jet apparently is shut down because the wind deprives the jet of material that would otherwise have fueled it. View Animation
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
These animation stills show how radio jets may be suppressed in the micro- quasar GRS 1915. Material is being pulled from a red companion star into a black hole via a blue, rapidly rotating disk. The animation begins with a jet blowing material away from the black hole. Later, when the disk is heated by powerful radiation from close to the black hole, a wind is driven off the disk. As the wind strengthens, the jet apparently is shut down because the wind deprives the jet of material that would otherwise have fueled it. View Animation
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
4
GRS 1915+105 with Scale Bar
(Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/Harvard/J.Neilsen); Optical & IR (Palomar DSS2)
(Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/Harvard/J.Neilsen); Optical & IR (Palomar DSS2)
GRS 1915+105 (March 25, 2009)
Revised: November 30, 2022