Researchers studied over 8,000 rapidly growing supermassive black holes in a sample of 1.3 million galaxies.
Supermassive black holes grow through consuming cold gas from their host galaxy (accretion) and merging with other supermassive black holes when galaxies collide.
The team found that supermassive black holes grew much more rapidly when the Universe was younger.
X-ray observations from Chandra, XMM-Newton, and eROSITA have been crucial in understanding the phenomenon of supermassive black hole growth.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Penn State and various international institutions have combined X-ray observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, the European Space Agency's X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission-Newton (XMM-Newton), and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics eROSITA telescope to provide the best modeling to date of the growth of supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies. The team, led by Penn State astronomers Fan Zou and W. Niel Brandt, studied over 8,000 rapidly growing black holes in a sample of 1.3 million galaxies.
Supermassive black holes grow through a combination of two main channels: consuming cold gas from their host galaxy (accretion) and merging with other supermassive black holes when galaxies collide. During the process of consuming gas from their hosting galaxies, black holes radiate strong X-rays, which is the key to tracking their growth by accretion. The researchers used this phenomenon to study the history of supermassive black hole growth.
The team found that supermassive black holes grew much more rapidly when the Universe was younger. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of galaxies and their central supermassive black holes over cosmic history.
X-ray observations from powerful X-ray facilities like Chandra, XMM-Newton, and eROSITA have been crucial in understanding this phenomenon. By combining these observations with supercomputer simulations of the buildup of galaxies over cosmic history, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the growth history of supermassive black holes.
The findings from this study were published in The Astrophysical Journal and The XMM-SERVS Collaboration, as well as in The TNG Collaboration. This research represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the growth and evolution of supermassive black holes.
Penn State researchers have provided the best modeling to date of the growth of supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies.
X-ray observations from powerful X-ray facilities and supercomputer simulations were used for the buildup of galaxies over cosmic history.
The observed X-ray emission is mainly from accreting supermassive black holes.
Accuracy
Supermassive black holes grow through a combination of two main channels: consuming cold gas from their host galaxy (accretion) and merging with other supermassive black holes when galaxies collide.
Researchers have provided the best modeling to date of the growth of supermassive black holes found in the centers of galaxies by combining X-ray observations from the most powerful X-ray facilities ever launched into space with supercomputer simulations of the buildup of galaxies over cosmic history.
Supermassive black holes grow through a combination of two main channels: consuming cold gas from their host galaxy (accretion) and merging with other supermassive black holes when galaxies collide.
During the process of consuming gas from their hosting galaxies, black holes radiate strong X-rays, and this is the key to tracking their growth by accretion.
Overall, supermassive black holes of all masses grew much more rapidly when the Universe was younger. Because of this, the total number of supermassive black holes was almost settled by 7 billion years ago.
The research team used data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, the European Space Agency’s X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission-Newton (XMM-Newton), and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics’ eROSITA telescope.
They studied over 8,000 rapidly growing black holes in a sample of 1.3 million galaxies.
Supermassive black holes of all masses grew much more rapidly when the Universe was younger.
Accuracy
]The research team used data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, the European Space Agency's X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission-Newton (XMM-Newton), and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics' eROSITA telescope.[/1] (from Article),