What Are Quasars & How Do They Work?

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    Quasars Work
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the nature of quasars, their mechanisms, and their relationship with supermassive black holes. Participants explore various aspects of quasars, including their formation, energy sources, and the scientific literature available on the topic.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in understanding what quasars are and how they function.
  • Another suggests that Wikipedia and various books can provide introductory information, inviting specific questions for further discussion.
  • A participant cites Wikipedia, stating that a quasar is a compact region around a supermassive black hole, powered by an accretion disc, and discusses the gravitational energy conversion into electromagnetic radiation.
  • Another participant highlights the efficiency of compact objects in converting gravitational energy into electromagnetic radiation, referencing Wikipedia.
  • Some participants emphasize the importance of reading and understanding the descriptions encountered in the literature on quasars.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the specifics of quasars, as the discussion includes references to external sources and varying levels of detail. Multiple viewpoints on how to approach the topic and the sources of information remain present.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on interpretations of scientific consensus and literature, which may not be universally accepted or fully explored in the discussion. The references to Wikipedia indicate a reliance on general sources for foundational understanding.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals seeking a basic understanding of quasars, as well as those looking for resources to explore the topic in greater depth.

medgalis
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I am really interested what are quasars and how do they work.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Wikipedia can give some introduction, and there are several books about quasars.
If you have specific questions, ask them, but "please explain how quasars work" https://www.physicsforums.com/blog.php?b=3588 .
 
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Via wikipedia:

... there is now a scientific consensus that a quasar is a compact region in the center of a massive galaxy surrounding its central supermassive black hole. Its size is 10–10,000 times the Schwarzschild radius of the black hole. The quasar is powered by an accretion disc around the black hole...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasar

and be sure to follow links like 'accretion disk' to read more: [There is a LOT to learn, so read slowly and think about descriptions you encounter.]
... the intense gravitational gradient gives rise to intense frictional heating; the accretion disc of a black hole is hot enough to emit X-rays just outside of the event horizon. The large luminosity of quasars is believed to be a result of gas being accreted by supermassive black holes...

so the energy to power such sources is believed to originate from the gravitational energy of black holes...
 
Naty1 said:
Via wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasar

and be sure to follow links like 'accretion disk' to read more: [There is a LOT to learn, so read slowly and think about descriptions you encounter.]

so the energy to power such sources is believed to originate from the gravitational energy of black holes...

This seems like a good way to explain quasars in a general point of view, for beginners. :) Wiki is good for general info, but if you want more in depth and complex things on quasars, then search your library or the Internet.
 

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