Which of the following statement(s) is are correct about IIT Guwahati and ISRO Researchers Discovery of X-Ray Polarization in Extragalactic Black Hole Source in November 20232
1. Large Magellanic Cloud X-3 (LMC X3) is a binary star system consisting of a black hole and a 'normal' star that is much hotter, bigger, and more massive than the Sun.
2. It is located in a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way, nearly 200,000 light-years away from Earth. Since its discovery in 1971. It has been observed by various satellites.
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Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) Both 1 & 2

Explanation: Both statements accurately describe the characteristics of LMC X-3 and its significance in astrophysical research:

• Statement 1: LMC X-3 is indeed a binary star system consisting of a black hole and a 'normal' star that is much hotter, bigger, and more massive than the Sun. ​
• Statement 2: LMC X-3 is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way, nearly 200,000 light-years away from Earth. Since its discovery in 1971, it has been observed by various satellites. ​

Information Booster:

• X-Ray Polarization Discovery: In November 2023, researchers from IIT Guwahati and ISRO made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting X-ray polarization in LMC X-3, marking the first time such measurements were made for an extragalactic black hole source. This achievement provides new insights into the accretion processes near black holes. ​
• Observational Techniques: The team utilized the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), alongside data from the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) and NuSTAR missions, to study the polarization properties of X-rays emitted by LMC X-3. ​
• Black Hole Characteristics: The findings suggest that the black hole in LMC X-3 has a low spin rate and is surrounded by a slim accretion disk, influencing the observed X-ray polarization. ​

• LMC X-3's Significance: LMC X-3 is considered an ideal cosmic laboratory for studying the X-ray polarization signatures of stellar-mass black holes due to its persistent accretion and relatively stable emission characteristics.