Finnish scientists identify new type of black hole

Finnish researchers have discovered a new type of low-mass black hole, which is a bright celestial body that emits X-ray, the University of Turku has said.

Researchers at the Finnish university, in cooperation with colleagues from Mexico and the US, have discovered a binary system, SWIFT J1753.5-0127, which is a mass between a black hole and a neutron star, Xinhua cited from the university's press release Thursday.

According to the existing knowledge, a massive black hole or a small neutron star are generally formed in supernova explosions due to the collapse of the massive stellar core.

It is the smallest stellar-mass black hole found up to date, with a mass below four solar masses, said the press release. Previously observed neutron stars have been found to have less than two solar masses, and black holes have over five solar masses.

The research supports the possibility of compact objects in the mass gap.

The research paper was published in the latest issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.