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First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. IX. Detection of Near-horizon Circular Polarization

Journal Article · · The Astrophysical Journal. Letters
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  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Westford, MA (United States); National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Tokyo (Japan); Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States); Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration. et al.
+ Show Author Affiliations
Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations have revealed a bright ring of emission around the supermassive black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy. EHT images in linear polarization have further identified a coherent spiral pattern around the black hole, produced from ordered magnetic fields threading the emitting plasma. Here we present the first analysis of circular polarization using EHT data, acquired in 2017, which can potentially provide additional insights into the magnetic fields and plasma composition near the black hole. Interferometric closure quantities provide convincing evidence for the presence of circularly polarized emission on event-horizon scales. We produce images of the circular polarization using both traditional and newly developed methods. All methods find a moderate level of resolved circular polarization across the image ( $$\langle$$|v|$$\rangle$$ < 3.7%), consistent with the low image-integrated circular polarization fraction measured by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (|vint|< 1%). Despite this broad agreement, the methods show substantial variation in the morphology of the circularly polarized emission, indicating that our conclusions are strongly dependent on the imaging assumptions because of the limited baseline coverage, uncertain telescope gain calibration, and weakly polarized signal. We include this upper limit in an updated comparison to general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulation models. This analysis reinforces the previously reported preference for magnetically arrested accretion flow models. We find that most simulations naturally produce a low level of circular polarization consistent with our upper limit and that Faraday conversion is likely the dominant production mechanism for circular polarization at 230 GHz in M87*.
Research Organization:
ASTRON, Dwingeloo; Aalto U.; Academia Sinica, Taiwan; Arizona U.; Arizona U., Astron. Dept. - Steward Observ.; Baltimore, Space Telescope Sci.; Beijing, GUCAS; Beijing, Inst. High Energy Phys.; Bologna, Ist. Radioastronomia; Bonn, Max Planck Inst., Radioastron.; Boston U.; Brandeis U.; Cagliari Observ.; Cagliari U.; Caltech; Canadian Inst. Advanced Res.; Canadian Inst. Theor. Astrophys.; Central Lancashire U.; Chalmers U. Tech.; Chicago U.; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.; Chicago U., EFI; Chicago U., KICP; Clemson U.; Colorado U.; Columbia U., Astron. Astrophys.; Conacyt, Mexico; Concepcion U.; Cornell U., Radio. Space Res. Ctr.; ESTEC, Noordwijk; East Asian Observ.; Fairfield U.; Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Flatiron Inst., New York; Frankfurt U.; Frankfurt U., FIAS; Gemini Observ., Hilo; Georgia Tech., Atlanta; Granada U., Theor. Phys. Astrophys.; Hachinohe Inst. Tech.; Harvard U.; Harvard U. (main); Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Hawaii U.; Hefei, CUST; Hiroshima U.; Hong Kong, Chinese U.; Hua-Zhong U. Sci. Tech.; IESL, Heraklion; INAF-IRA, Bologna; INAOE, Puebla; INFN, Cagliari; INFN, Naples; IRAM, Granada; IRAM, St. Martin d'Heres; Illinois U., Urbana; Illinois U., Urbana, Astron. Dept.; KAIST, Taejon; KASI, DaeJeon; Kapteyn Astron. Inst., Groningen; Kogakuin U.; Kyung Hee U.; Kyungpook Natl. U.; LESIA, Meudon; LSST, Tucson; Las Cumbres Observ.; Leiden Observ.; Lethbridge U.; MIT; Malaya U.; Massachusetts U., Amherst; McGill U.; McGill U., Montreal (main); Michigan State U.; Mullard Space Sci. Lab.; NAOC, Beijing; NRAO, Charlottesville; NWO, The Hague; Nanjing U.; Nanjing U. Sci. Tech.; Nanjing U., Dept. Astron.; Naples U.; Natl. Astron. Observ. of Japan; New Mexico U.; Niigata U.; Nijmegen U., IMAPP; Peking U.; Peking U., Beijing, KIAA; Peking U., CHEP; Perimeter Inst. Theor. Phys.; Pretoria U.; Princeton U.; Princeton U., Astrophys. Sci. Dept.; Princeton, Inst. Advanced Study; RCAAM, Academy of Athens; Rhodes U.; Sao Paulo U.; Sao Paulo, Inst. Astron. Geofis.; Sejong U.; Seoul Natl. U., Dept. Phys. Astron.; Shanghai Jiao Tong U.; Shanghai Jiaotong U.; Shanghai, Astron. Observ.; Southern Denmark U., CP3-Origins; Subaru Telescope; Taiwan, Natl. Normal U.; Taiwan, Natl. Taiwan U.; Texas U., San Antonio; Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States); Tokyo Inst. Tech.; Tokyo U.; Tokyo U., ICRR; Tokyo U., IPMU; Tokyo, Inst. Statistical Math.; Toronto U.; Trinity Coll., Dublin; Tuorla Observ.; Turku U.; U. Amsterdam, GRAPPA; U. Toronto, Dunlap Inst. Astron. Astrophys.; U. Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Sch. Phys.; UC, Berkeley; UC, Santa Barbara; UNAM, Inst. Astron.; UNAM, Morelia, Inst. Radioastron. Astrophys.; Unlisted, CN; Unlisted, US, MA; Valencia U., Astro. Astrophys.; Valencia U., IFIC; Villanova U.; Washington U., St. Louis; Waterloo U.; Waterloo U., IQC; Wurzburg U.; Yale Ctr. Astron. Astrophys.; Yonsei U.; Yunnan Observ.
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy; USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Contributing Organization:
Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
2336766
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2346182
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB--23-146-PPD; FERMILAB-PUB-23-146-PPD; arXiv:2311.10976; oai:inspirehep.net:2720377
Journal Information:
The Astrophysical Journal. Letters, Journal Name: The Astrophysical Journal. Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 957; ISSN 2041-8205
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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