A team of scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery using data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), uncovering 300 intermediate-mass black hole candidates and 2,500 active black holes in dwarf galaxies. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal, provide new insights into the formation and evolution of black holes.
The team, led by University of Utah postdoctoral researcher Ragadeepika Pucha, analyzed early data from DESI, a state-of-the-art instrument that can capture light from 5,000 galaxies simultaneously. They discovered an unprecedented dataset containing the spectra of 410,000 galaxies, including roughly 115,000 dwarf galaxies.
The research focuses on actively feeding black holes, which are easier to spot due to their energetic activity. The team identified 2,500 active galactic nuclei (AGN) in dwarf galaxies, representing a significant increase from previous studies. This finding suggests that scientists have been missing a substantial number of low-mass, undiscovered black holes.
The study also revealed 300 intermediate-mass black hole candidates, which are poorly understood and thought to be relics of the early universe. These discoveries provide a powerful new dataset for studying these cosmic enigmas.
The team’s findings raise questions about black hole formation and evolution within galaxies. “Is there any relationship between the mechanisms of black hole formation and the types of galaxies they inhabit?” Pucha asked. The wealth of new candidates will help scientists delve deeper into these mysteries, enriching our understanding of black holes and their pivotal role in galaxy evolution.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-desi-uncovers-intermediate-mass-black.html