Black-hole process
The Blandford–Znajek Mechanism
The leading explanation for how relativistic jets are powered: magnetic field lines threading a spinning black hole extract its rotational energy and fling plasma outward. Proposed by Roger Blandford and Roman Znajek in 1977, it lets a black hole act as a cosmic engine, converting spin into the enormous power of a jet.
Highlights
- ›Tapping a black hole's spin to power a jet
Classes, physics & objects
Across compact objects
Knowledge connections
- Associated withRelativistic Jet
- Associated withBlack Hole
- Associated withRelativistic Jet
- Associated withActive Galactic Nucleus
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.