Abstract: The formation of relativistic jets by an accreting compact object is one of the fundamental mysteries of astrophysics. While the theory is poorly understood, the observations of relativistic jets from systems known as microquasars have led to a well-established phenomenology. Relativistic jets are not expected from sources with soft or supersoft X-ray spectra, although two such systems are known to produce relatively low-velocity bipolar out?ows. Here we report the optical spectra of an ultraluminous supersoft X-ray source (ULS) in the nearby galaxy M81 (M81 ULS-1) showing blueshifted broad Ha emission lines, the characteristics of baryonic jets with relativistic speeds. The time variable jets have projected velocities ~17 percent of the speed of light, which seems similar to those in the prototype microquasar SS433. Such relativistic jets are not expected to be launched from white dwarfs, but an origin from a black hole or neutron star in M81 ULS-1 is hard to reconcile with its constant soft X-rays. The completely unexpected presence of relativistic jets in a ULS challenges the canonical theories for jet formation, which is possibly explained by a long speculated supercritically accreting black hole with optically thick out?ows.

Key words:  , X-ray, jet, black hole