An international team of scientists has been able to solve the puzzles surrounding the X-ray binary system called MAXI J1820+070, which contains a black hole, thanks to India’s first dedicated Space Astronomy Observatory AstroSat, ISRO announced on Tuesday.

NASA states that X-ray binaries, so named because they release X-rays, consist of a normal star and a collapsed star, which could be a black hole, white dwarf, or neutron star.

The compact object MAXI J1820+070 is a black hole in a low-mass X-ray binary. An international team’s study “A Multi-Wavelength Spectral Study of MAXI J1820+070 in the Soft and Hard States” according to an ISRO statement “presents unique insights into the behaviour of this transient black hole X-ray binary during its 2018 outburst”.

As stated

The research presents intriguing results on the accretion states of MAXI J1820+070. During an outburst, black hole X-ray binaries like MAXI J1820+070 frequently display several accretion states,” it continued. The researchers’ use of cutting-edge tools revealed the black hole’s spin and provided insight into its basic characteristics.

“The significance of this study extends beyond MAXI J1820+070, highlighting the pivotal role of AstroSat in advancing the understanding of transient black hole X-ray binaries,” said ISRO.

It further said that because of AstroSat’s exceptional multi-wavelength capabilities, more research into a variety of astrophysical phenomena is made possible, establishing the foundation for future efforts in the area.