The discovery of this ultraluminous quasar also presents a major puzzle to the theory of
black hole growth at early universe, according to Xiaohui Fan, Regents» Professor of Astronomy at the UA's Steward Observatory, who co-authored the study.
Not exact matches
For many aspects of the simulation, researchers can start their calculations
at a fundamental, or ab initio, level with no need for preconceived input data, but processes that are less understood — such as star formation and the
growth of supermassive
black holes — need to be informed by observation and by making assumptions that can simplify the deluge of calculations.
This enhanced
growth of the strength of gravity means that the true energy scale
at which the laws of gravity and quantum mechanics clash — and
black holes can be made — could be much lower than the traditional expectation.
As such, researchers want to look
at as many early supermassive
black holes as possible to learn more about their
growth and their effects on the rest of the cosmos.
Gathering all this mass in under 690 million years is an enormous challenge for theories of supermassive
black hole growth, explains Eduardo Bañados, an astronomer
at the Carnegie Institution for Science who led the international team of scientists.
To measure the mass and
growth rate of these galaxies» active nuclei — the supermassive
black holes at the galaxies» centers — the researchers used data from 12 different ground - based telescopes spread across the globe to complement the data from the Swift satellite.
Simulations show that fractal patterns emerge on the horizons of
black holes at mealtime, which could offer insights into their
growth.
Meanwhile, a correlation between the rate
at which stars form in the central regions of galaxies and the amount of gas that falls into supermassive
black holes (mass accretion rate) was known to exist, leading some scientists to suggest that the activity involved in star formation fuels the
growth of
black holes.
The second will study the formation,
growth and ultimate sizes of the supermassive
black holes found
at the centers of galaxies.
Researchers said the technique could help astronomers address broad questions about galactic evolution, which is intimately tied to the
growth and activity of the supermassive
black holes that lurk
at the heart of most, if not all, galaxies.
These galaxies are known for a much higher rate of star formation compared to sedate Milky Way - like galaxies, making these structures ideal to study galaxy
growth and the interplay between gas, dust, stars, and the
black holes at the centers of galaxies.
With its unprecedented look
at the early Universe in X-rays, the CDF - S gives astronomers the best look yet
at the
growth of
black holes over billions of years starting soon after the Big Bang.
«We are still very uncertain as to the modes of
black -
hole formation and
growth in the early Universe... so we do not have a leading model for this observation to pose problems to,» Chris Willott, an astronomer
at the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre in Victoria, reportedly said.