A new study suggests that there were more monstrous black holes in the early universe than previously thought. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder, used novel computer modeling methods to predict the masses of supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies. The results indicate that these cosmic titans may grow faster than previously believed.
The black hole at the center of our galaxy, known as Sagittarius A*, is millions of times the mass of the sun. However, there are other black holes that scientists believe are billions of times the mass of the sun. The challenge for researchers is that they don’t have accurate measurements for the masses of supermassive black holes in galaxies farther away, so they have to rely on estimates.
The two supermassive black holes that have been imaged so far serve as examples of the wide range of masses these cosmic monsters can have. Sagittarius A* has a mass equal to around 4.5 million suns, while the black hole in the galaxy M87, located 6 million light-years away, has a mass equal to around 5 billion suns.
There are several theories about how supermassive black holes grow to such enormous sizes, with most involving the mergers of smaller black holes. However, the question remains whether there has been enough time in the 13.8-billion-year history of the universe for these processes to grow supermassive black holes, especially those that existed billions of years ago.
The new research suggests that black holes may have been larger in the early universe than previously thought. By gathering information about hundreds of thousands of galaxies, some of which are seen as they were billions of years ago, the researchers were able to calculate black hole masses for some of the largest galaxies in the universe. Computer modeling was then used to simulate the gravitational waves that these objects would create.
The data showed that there was a larger selection of big galaxies and huge supermassive black holes in the universe billions of years ago than currently predicted. This suggests that these monstrous black holes may not need as much time to grow as previously theorized. Similar conclusions have been reached by astronomers who have observed unexpectedly large black holes in the early universe.
In future research, the team plans to investigate black holes located even farther away from Earth, which would allow them to study even earlier periods in cosmic history. This investigation could help shed light on how galaxies like the Milky Way form, as supermassive black holes have a significant influence on the galaxies that host them.
Understanding the masses of black holes is crucial for answering fundamental questions about the universe, such as the gravitational wave background and the evolution of galaxies. The research was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on May 30th.
How do computer simulations suggest that mergers between black holes could explain the existence of extremely massive black holes in the early universe?
Ion light-years away, has a mass approximately 6.5 billion times that of the sun.
Previous models have suggested that supermassive black holes grow by consuming surrounding matter, such as gas and stars. However, the new study challenges this idea by proposing that some black holes actually grow by merging with other black holes.
Using computer simulations, the researchers modeled the growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe. They found that the merger scenario could explain the existence of the extremely massive black holes that have been observed.
The study also suggests that these mergers could occur more frequently than previously thought, leading to a higher abundance of monstrous black holes in the early universe.
One implication of these findings is that the growth rate of supermassive black holes may be faster than scientists had originally believed. This could have implications for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.
The researchers hope that future observations and advancements in computer modeling will help to refine their predictions and provide further insights into the formation and growth of supermassive black holes.
In conclusion, a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder, suggests that there may have been more monstrous black holes in the early universe than previously thought. The study challenges previous models by proposing that some black holes grow through mergers with other black holes. These findings could have implications for our understanding of galaxy formation and the growth rate of supermassive black holes.