Radio Waves emitted by Black Holes

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SUMMARY

Black holes emit radio waves primarily due to the acceleration of charged particles as they fall into the black hole, rather than light escaping the black hole itself. The majority of radio emissions in radio-loud quasars originate from jets expelled from the black hole, with the emission mechanism being synchrotron radiation, where relativistic charged particles interact with magnetic fields. In contrast, radio-quiet quasars exhibit uncertain sources of radio emissions, which may include free-free scattering (bremsstrahlung). This discussion clarifies the distinction between light and radio wave emissions in the context of black hole physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of black hole physics and general relativity
  • Familiarity with electromagnetic radiation and wave properties
  • Knowledge of synchrotron radiation and its mechanisms
  • Basic concepts of quasars and their classifications
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanisms of synchrotron radiation in astrophysics
  • Explore the properties and classifications of quasars
  • Study the effects of general relativity on light and radiation near black holes
  • Investigate bremsstrahlung and its role in astrophysical contexts
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Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students interested in black hole emissions, radio astronomy, and the physics of quasars.

DeepThunker
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I was reading up on black holes when i thought of this. Black holes have been found to emit radio waves. I was wondering if this was actually light that managed to escape the black hole. Here is my thinking on this.
From what i know light travels in a straight line through points through space. A BH distorts space time which causes light to travel straight on the path into the BH. If light is expelled at 90 degree angle to the surface of the BH it should travel at lightspeed away from the BH. I was thinking then that the light wave's wavelength would be stretched into becoming a radio wave. If this is true we should be able to "read" the output. Comments?
 
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All radiation related to a black hole (except for infinitesimal amount called Hawking radiation) comes from charged particles (outside) falling into the black hole and radiating as they accelerate into the hole.
 
In radio-loud quasars, the majority of the radio emission comes from a pair of jets being expelled from the black hole and most of it originates from well away from the central engine. The mechanism of emission is synchrotron (relativistic charged particles interacting with magnetic fields). Radio-quiet quasars do have some radio emission, but I believe it's somewhat uncertain as to the source. Other than synchrotron, you can get large radio fluxes from free-free scattering (bremsstrahlung).
 

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