Astronomers have discovered the heaviest binary black hole. Researchers have discovered the heaviest binary super black holes ever, with a combined mass of 28 billion times that of the Sun.
Astronomers have discovered the heaviest binary black hole
Astronomers have encountered a couple in an unexpected place in space. Researchers have discovered the heaviest supermassive binary black holes ever measured.
According to AI, the theory of the merger of two supermassive black holes has been proposed for a long time but has never been directly observed. It’s almost like seeing a rare unicorn. This theory suggests that when two galaxies merge, their resident black holes collide and eventually merge into a single black hole. This pair of black holes is expected to release powerful gravitational waves.
To challenge this theory, a group of astronomers began analyzing data from the Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii. What was their mission? They were to investigate a supermassive binary black hole in the elliptical galaxy B20402+379, and in doing so, reveal their cosmic secrets.
The North Jumna Telescope is one-half of the Jumna International Observatory operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, which allows scientists to study the two black holes.
The binary black hole in the galaxy B20402+379 defied expectations. The group observed that the 24-light-year distance between the two black holes has been maintained for more than three billion years.
24 light-years of separation for over three billion years
The group looked at archival data from the North Jumna Multi-Object Spectrometer (GMOS), a highly sensitive instrument that can map stars around black holes.
Roger Romani, professor of physics at Stanford University, explains: “The excellent sensitivity of GMOS allows us to map the increasing velocities of stars as we get closer to the center of the galaxy.”
Their research showed that the binary mass of black holes acts as a gravitational barrier. This prevents the two black holes from merging.
In addition, the researchers discovered clues to the origin of these black hole binaries, suggesting that they formed through multiple galactic mergers. The galaxy B20402+379 is a “fossil cluster” formed by the merging of all the stars and gas of a galaxy cluster into a single galaxy.
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Stay in limbo or merge?
Two supermassive black holes are formed from the merger of smaller black holes from different galaxies. After galactic mergers, supermassive black holes spiral closer together until gravitational forces overcome them and they merge.
However, in the case of these two supermassive black holes, their sheer size has thrown out almost all of the surrounding material, creating a gravitational vacuum. Because these two are so heavy, they need a lot of stars and gas to do the job, Romney noted.
The important question is, will these two black holes remain in limbo indefinitely or will they overcome their gravitational radiation and merge? The potential effect of merger-induced gravitational waves can be a hundred million times stronger than that of ordinary black hole mergers.
The findings of this group have been published in the Astrophysical Journal.