Artist's impression of the new 'unified model' for the different kinds of quasar activity
Copyright: MPA/MPE
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According to this model, for a well-fed black hole, some part of the matter streaming towards the centre never reaches the black hole but is blown apart in a bipolar, cone-like outflow. This outflow is driven by the strong radiation pressure of the central object. In the case of APM 08279+5255, you are looking along the gas stream which is 'X-rayed' by the central light source.
Last Update: 1 September 2019