A groundbreaking study indicates that supermassive black holes are significantly smaller than scientists previously estimated. Researchers from the University of Southampton, in collaboration with European partners, have utilized advanced telescope technology to examine a young galaxy located 12 billion light years away. Their findings suggest that the supermassive black hole within this distant galaxy is approximately 10 times smaller than earlier predictions.
This research resolves a long-standing enigma regarding the rapid growth of supermassive black holes shortly after the Big Bang. According to Professor Seb Hoenig, the results imply that existing methods for measuring black hole sizes in the early universe may be flawed. He stated, “We have been wondering for years how it’s possible we discovered all these fully grown supermassive black holes in very young galaxies shortly after the Big Bang. They shouldn’t have had the time to grow that massive.”
The study, published in the Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, employed the cutting-edge Gravity+ instrument. This technology integrates light from four of the world’s most powerful optical telescopes at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. The research team, which includes scientists from France, Germany, Portugal, and Belgium, focused on an ancient quasar, a type of galaxy that houses a black hole so luminous it resembles a “cosmic beacon from the dawn of time.”
Their analysis revealed a swirling mass of super-hot gas, approximately 800 million times the size of our sun, poised to be consumed by the supermassive black hole. However, Professor Hoenig noted that much of the gas approaching the black hole is being expelled rather than consumed. “Most of the gas falling towards the supermassive black hole is being violently blasted away rather than feeding it,” he explained. He likened this phenomenon to a “cosmic hairdryer set to maximum power,” where intense radiation repels matter that gets too close.
This dynamic movement is crucial for accurately determining the mass of the black hole. The research team argues that this “feeding frenzy” leads to powerful gas expulsions, which may have contributed to the overestimation of black hole sizes in prior studies. By reevaluating these measurements, the scientific community may gain new insights into the models of cosmic evolution and the formation of supermassive black holes across the universe.
The implications of this study extend beyond mere numbers; they challenge existing theories and prompt a reconsideration of our understanding of black hole formation. As researchers continue to investigate the mysteries of the universe, this pioneering work sets the stage for future discoveries that may reshape our comprehension of cosmic phenomena.