Astronomers used AI to process black hole data in the center of our galaxy

The Dutch astronomers have used the AI ​​to process the data horizon data (EHT). In particular, the resulting results indicate that the black hole in the center The Milky Way – Sagittarius A* – rotates at almost the maximum theoretically possible speed.

The team under the direction of Michael Jansen from the University of the Radbuda published results in three articles of Astronomy & Astrophysics. They used a bayes neural network, which takes into account the uncertainty in the data, and trained it on millions of modeled scenarios of black holes.

EHT is an array of radio telescopes, by which scientists were able to get the first image of a black hole in the center of the M87 galaxy in 2017, which became an astronomical sensation.

The first image of a black hole in the M87 center. Data: European Southern Observatory.

In previous studies using EHT, only limited data sets were used. This time, scientists were able to compare simulations with real observations more accurately.

“The ability to scale up to millions of synthetic data files is a striking achievement. You need a storage space, a supercomputer, a software conveyor and a program that distributes the work, ”explained Jordy Delaar’s co -considers of Princeton University.

The implementation uses Cyverse, OSG OS Pool, Pegasus services, and Tensorflow, Horovod and Casa tools.

In particular, new methods have made it possible to find out that radiation near Sagittarius a* was caused not by jatt, as previously assumed, but by overhanging electrons in a billing disk. In addition, magnetic fields in this disk do not behave in the same way as classical theory.

Synthetic images of black holes SGR A* (Milky Way) and M87* (M87 galaxy in the constellation of the Virgin). Data: Astronomy and Astrophysics.

“What we challenge a common theory is, of course, exciting. However, I consider our approach to artificial intelligence and machine learning as an initial step. Next, we will improve and expand the connected models and modeling, ”Jansen said.

In addition to Sagittarius a*, scientists have also re -analyzed the black hole M87*. It also rotates quickly, though slower than Sagittarius a*. In addition, its rotation is opposite to the direction of gas movement, which can be the result of an ancient galactic fusion.

Scientists hope that after the commissioning of an African millimeter telescope, which is in the construction stage, they will be able to get even better data to confirm the overall theory of relativity for supermassive compact objects.

Recall that in May, Meta and Booz Allen Hamilton announced the launch of Space Llama – an adapted version of the open language model LLAMA 3.2 on board the American National Segment of the International Space Station.

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