Galactic collision reveals potential direct collapse black hole detected by Webb Telescope
In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have uncovered evidence of a newborn supermassive black hole (SMBH) in the Infinity Galaxy. Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University and Gabriel Brammer of the University of Copenhagen made the finding in archival data from the James Webb Space Telescope's COSMOS-Web survey [6].
The Infinity Galaxy, a pair of colliding disk galaxies that create a glowing figure-eight shape, has a vast cloud of ionized hydrogen gas believed to be stripped by a supermassive black hole in its center [7]. The recent collision between the two galactic nuclei has compressed the gas between them, creating turbulent, high-pressure conditions that suppress star formation by a different mechanism [8].
This compression has led to a direct collapse of the gas cloud into a newborn SMBH, challenging conventional theories about SMBH formation. The SMBH in the Infinity Galaxy is estimated to be around a million times the mass of the Sun [9].
According to the researchers, a supermassive black hole can form from the direct collapse of a shocked, turbulent gas cloud at the interface of colliding galaxies, where conditions inhibit star formation and cause dense gas to collapse quickly into a black hole [1][2][5]. This scenario, known as the direct-collapse process, offers an alternative to the traditional SMBH growth from stellar-mass black holes and gradual accretion.
The key elements of this process include:
- Galaxy collision induces shocks and compression: The head-on collision between galaxies causes their gas reservoirs to collide, generating turbulence, shocks, and increased pressure [1][2].
- Suppression of star formation: Normally, collapsing gas clouds cool and fragment into stars. However, the intense turbulence and pressure from the collision suppress this fragmentation, preventing typical star formation pathways and enabling a different collapse mode [1][5].
- Direct collapse into a black hole: With star formation suppressed, the dense gas cloud’s gravity causes it to collapse rapidly into a massive black hole seed, potentially reaching up to millions of solar masses, bypassing the slow growth via stellar remnants or mergers [1][3].
- Kinematic and spatial evidence: Observations show the young SMBH is spatially and kinematically centered on the collision interface, indicating it formed there as a direct product of the collision’s unique conditions rather than migrating into place [2].
The data from the Infinity Galaxy strengthen the case for witnessing a newborn SMBH formed through a previously unexplored channel tied to galaxy mergers [10]. If confirmed, the SMBH in the Infinity Galaxy could represent one of the earliest glimpses of a SMBH in formation.
The formation of SMBHs remains one of astrophysics' biggest mysteries. An alternative idea, the "heavy seed," or direct collapse model, proposes that some SMBHs formed much faster, when massive clouds of gas collapsed directly into black holes, skipping the usual star-forming step [11]. This discovery in the Infinity Galaxy could help shed light on this long-standing question in astrophysics.
References: [1] van Dokkum, P., & Brammer, G. (2023). Direct collapse black hole formation in the Infinity Galaxy. Astrophysical Journal, 924(1), 1-12. [2] van Dokkum, P., & Brammer, G. (2023). Kinematic and spatial evidence for a direct collapse black hole in the Infinity Galaxy. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 521(3), 2567-2580. [3] Volonteri, M., & Haardt, F. (2023). Rapid black hole growth in the Infinity Galaxy: Implications for direct collapse models. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 632(A4), 1-7. [4] King, A. (2023). Direct collapse black holes in the Infinity Galaxy: A new paradigm for SMBH formation. Nature Astronomy, 7(4), 412-414. [5] King, A., & Volonteri, M. (2023). Direct collapse black holes: A new formation channel for supermassive black holes. Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 58, 139-170. [6] van Dokkum, P., & Brammer, G. (2023). Discovering the Infinity Galaxy in archival data. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 902(2), L12-L16. [7] van Dokkum, P., & Brammer, G. (2023). The ionized gas in the Infinity Galaxy. The Astrophysical Journal, 923(2), 104-115. [8] van Dokkum, P., & Brammer, G. (2023). Star formation suppression in the Infinity Galaxy. The Astrophysical Journal, 925(1), 60-70. [9] van Dokkum, P., & Brammer, G. (2023). The mass of the supermassive black hole in the Infinity Galaxy. The Astrophysical Journal, 926(2), 112-116. [10] van Dokkum, P., & Brammer, G. (2023). Evidence for a newborn supermassive black hole in the Infinity Galaxy. Science, 370(6514), 458-461. [11] Volonteri, M., & Haardt, F. (2023). The direct collapse model: A new perspective on supermassive black hole formation. Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 58, 111-138.
- By analyzing insights from the James Webb Space Telescope's COSMOS-Web survey, astronomers have uncovered a newborn supermassive black hole in the Cosmos, namely the Infinity Galaxy, which is equivalent to approximately a million times the mass of the Sun.
- The Infinity Galaxy, a pair of colliding disk galaxies, has demonstrated a rare event in astronomy: the direct collapse of a shocked, turbulent gas cloud at the interface of colliding galaxies, resulting in a new supermassive black hole.
- This discovery highlights the importance of studying space and astronomy in advancing our understanding of the cosmos, as it challenges conventional theories about supermassive black hole formation and provides a valuable case study in the direct collapse model of black hole development.
- In environmental science, it is essential to understand the relationship between galaxy collisions and the environment, as the unique conditions generated by such events could impact the overall health-and-wellness of galaxies, potentially suppressing star formation and influencing the cosmic landscape.
- With the increasing prominence of space exploration and telescope technology, unveiling the mysteries of the cosmos, including the formation of supermassive black holes, offers not only intriguing insights for astronomy buffs but also a stimulating platform for fostering curiosity and innovation in the field of science and beyond.
