Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery about supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxy clusters. By analyzing data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and optical observations, researchers found that these massive black holes can fuel their own growth by cooling and recycling gas. This continuous cycle of feeding and outbursts allows the black holes to sustain themselves.
The study focused on seven galaxy clusters, which contain some of the most massive galaxies in the universe. At the heart of these galaxies are supermassive black holes with masses ranging from millions to tens of billions of times that of the Sun. These black holes power jets that shoot out vast amounts of energy, a process fueled by the gas they consume.
The researchers discovered that when black hole outbursts occur, hot gas is triggered to cool and form narrow filaments of warm gas. This process is made possible by turbulence in the gas, which also plays a crucial role in feeding the black holes. The team found a critical relationship between the brightness of these filaments, with regions where the hot gas is brighter having warmer gas as well.
The study provided new insights into the behavior of supermassive black holes and their role in shaping galaxy clusters. It also revealed an unexpected cosmic connection to jellyfish galaxies, which have had gas stripped away from them, forming long tails. This finding implies that a similar process may be occurring in these objects.
Led by Valeria Olivares from the University of Santiago de Chile, the research team used innovative techniques to analyze the data and provide critical support for their model. The study was published on January 27 in Nature Astronomy and marked an important advance in our understanding of supermassive black holes and their role in the universe.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/black-holes-cook-their-own-fuel-in-a-cosmic-feast