天文學家發現觀測超大質量黑洞的新方法
Astronomers Find New Way to Spot Supermassive Black Holes
Updated at: June 8, 2026 at 06:15 AM
天文學家長期以來一直致力於尋找緊密結合的超大質量黑洞聯星——即在宇宙深處相互繞行的巨大黑洞對。
Astronomers have long struggled to find tightly bound supermassive black hole binaries—pairs of giants orbiting each other in the deep reaches of space.
由於黑洞不發光，因此極難追蹤。
Because black holes emit no light, they are notoriously difficult to track.
然而，牛津大學與馬克斯·普朗克引力物理研究所的研究人員發表了一項突破性研究，提出了一種尋找它們的新方法：重力透鏡效應。
However, a groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Oxford and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics suggests a new way to find them: gravitational lensing.
一對互相繞行的黑洞會產生一種稱為焦散曲線的獨特「鑽石形」結構。
A pair of orbiting black holes creates a distinct 'diamond-shaped' pattern called a caustic curve.
隨著黑洞相互舞動，這種結構會導致背景恆星發出反覆閃爍的光芒。
As the black holes dance around one another, this structure causes background stars to pulse with repeating flashes of light.
透過分析這些脈衝的頻率與亮度，科學家不僅能辨識出這些聯星，甚至能計算其質量。
By analyzing the frequency and brightness of these pulses, scientists can identify the binaries and even calculate their mass.
這項技術徹底改變了遊戲規則，讓我們能在這些宇宙巨獸碰撞前就發現它們。
This technique is a game-changer, allowing us to spot these cosmic giants long before they collide.
隨著薇拉·魯賓天文台(Vera C.
With advanced tools like the upcoming Vera C.
Rubin Observatory)等先進工具即將啟用，天文學家正處於一個新時代的邊緣，將這些難以捉摸的「失落環節」轉化為可觀測的目標，進而幫助我們解開重力與星系演化的謎團。
Rubin Observatory, astronomers are on the verge of a new era, turning these elusive 'missing links' into observable targets that will help us unlock the mysteries of gravity and galaxy evolution.
