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Quasi-periodic oscillations of GHz-band polarization in a black hole

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Wang

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

  • Jiashi Chen

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

  • Pengfu Tian

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

  • Luis C. Ho

    (Peking University
    Peking University)

  • Xiaohui Sun

    (Yunan University)

  • Pei Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bing Zhang

    (University of Nevada
    University of Nevada)

  • Zheng Zheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiao Chen

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

  • Ping Zhang

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University of Science and Technology)

  • Haifan Zhu

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

  • Wen Yang

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

  • Botao Li

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

Abstract

Relativistic jets from accreting black holes radiate non-thermal emission which is highly variable in different time scales. Previous studies on black holes of different mass scales, including supermassive and stellar-mass black holes, only report flux quasi-periodic oscillations in radio, optical, X-ray and gamma-ray bands. No quasi-periodic variations in polarization have yet been detected in any black hole systems. Here, we report a detection of GHz-band radio polarization oscillations in GRS 1915+105, which harbors a fast-spinning stellar-mass black hole with a relativistic jet. Our observations show that during the increasing phase of radio emission, linear polarization and flux exhibit similar oscillation periods of 17 and 33 seconds, and their variation patterns anti-correlate with each other. These rare, short-period oscillations in both polarization and flux would be important to understand instabilities and special dynamics in magnetized relativistic jets.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Wang & Jiashi Chen & Pengfu Tian & Luis C. Ho & Xiaohui Sun & Pei Wang & Bing Zhang & Zheng Zheng & Xiao Chen & Ping Zhang & Haifan Zhu & Wen Yang & Botao Li, 2025. "Quasi-periodic oscillations of GHz-band polarization in a black hole," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59586-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59586-5
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