Astronomers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the most massive black holes can independently create their own 'food.' Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) indicate that black hole outbursts contribute to the cooling of surrounding gas, which then nourishes them.
The study examined seven galaxy clusters housing the largest black holes, with masses ranging from millions to billions of solar masses. Observations revealed that material ejected by black holes forms threads of warm gas.
Images from the study depict two clusters—Perseus and Centaurus. Chandra's X-ray data (in blue) show the distribution of hot gas, while optical images from VLT (in red) illustrate cooler gas structures.
The results confirmed a model suggesting that black hole outbursts induce the cooling of heated gas. Some of this gas is directed toward the centers of galaxies, reactivating black holes and triggering new outbursts that sustain the process.
For the first time, a clear connection was established between the brightness of hot and cooled gas in the centers of clusters: brighter regions of hot gas also exhibit more intense glowing from cooler gas. This supports the model of interaction between black holes and their environment.
Additionally, similarities were found between gas threads in clusters and the tails of jellyfish galaxies that lose gas while moving through intergalactic space. This discovery indicates analogous processes occurring at different scales in the universe.
This research significantly enhances the understanding of how black holes influence star formation and galaxy evolution.
The study was led by Valeria Olivares from the University of Santiago de Chile, with results published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Scientists from the USA, Chile, Australia, Canada, and Italy participated in the project, utilizing the MUSE instrument on VLT, which allows for three-dimensional imaging of cosmic objects.
The Chandra program is managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, with scientific operations overseen by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
Previously, reports highlighted a dormant black hole that had fed and was in a state of sleep.