A groundbreaking study has revealed that the winds from supermassive black holes behave more like high-energy bullets than steady winds. The discovery, made by researchers from JAXA, NASA, and the European Space Agency, sheds new light on how these massive objects affect galaxy growth.
According to experts, the blasts of wind carry a much bigger punch than expected, which may alter our understanding of black hole and galaxy development. The study drew on efforts by Professor Christine Done at Durham University’s Center for Extragalactic Astronomy and utilized advanced telescopes such as XRISM.
Researchers have long been puzzled by how these relatively small regions can impact sprawling galaxies. Observations suggest a tight link between black hole mass and a galaxy’s bulge, but pinpointing the cause has proven tricky.
The center of a galaxy can create intense gravitational forces that heat up surrounding gas, leading to chaotic outflows. These high-velocity blasts travel at nearly a third of light speed, consisting of five distinct speed components indicating a more scattered structure.
Scientists believe these clumpy flows can inject massive amounts of energy back into the galaxy, potentially halting or slowing new star formation. The discovery throws a wrench into older models that assumed a smooth and continuous stream of gas.
Astrophysicists are now trying to reconcile these observations with previous theories, suspecting that older models may have missed short-lived events. They propose that the interstellar environment might be patchy, leading to uneven feedback that allows some material to slip through.
The study’s findings suggest that powerful outflows may regulate star formation by blowing away raw materials needed for new stars. However, astronomers also realize that these patches of galaxy might still harbor areas where star formation can continue, complicating predictions.
Overall, the research offers a fresh perspective on black hole feedback and has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy evolution.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/supermassive-black-holes-seen-firing-bullet-like-winds-at-light-speed