Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing the largest sample of feeding black holes at the heart of dwarf galaxies. Using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), researchers identified over 2,500 candidate dwarf galaxies hosting active galactic nuclei, with a significant number of these being “missing link” intermediate-mass black holes.
These mid-sized black holes are thought to be relics of the first black holes formed in the universe and could hold the key to understanding how stellar-mass black holes grow into supermassive black holes. However, their elusive nature has made them challenging to detect, with scientists having discovered only around 150 intermediate-mass black hole candidates prior to this research.
The DESI dataset includes light from 410,000 galaxies, with a focus on dwarf galaxies containing thousands of stars but little gas. By analyzing the connection between the evolution of these galaxies and their central black holes, researchers were able to identify 300 intermediate-mass black holes, more than tripling the number of known missing link black holes.
While the discovery provides new insights into the dynamics between galaxy evolution and black hole growth, it also raises questions about the mechanisms of black hole formation and the types of galaxies they inhabit. The team behind this research is eager to explore these mysteries, shedding light on the pivotal role of black holes in galaxy evolution.
This groundbreaking study has significant implications for our understanding of the universe’s earliest black holes and their growth process, highlighting the importance of ongoing research into the mysteries of dark energy and its impact on the cosmos.
Source: https://www.space.com/desi-missing-link-intermediate-mass-black-hole