NASA CAPTURES THE MOST POWERFUL BLACK HOLE ERUPTION IN DISTANT GALAXY

Galaxy cluster SDSS J1531+3414 X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/O. Omoruyi et al.; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/G. Tremblay et al.; Radio: ASTRON/LOFAR; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk (Credit NASA)

Fri 01 March 2024:

One of the strongest explosions from a supermassive black hole in a far-off galaxy cluster has been discovered by astronomers, according to US space agency NASA.

This mega-explosion billions of years ago may help explain the formation of a striking pattern of star clusters around two massive galaxies, resembling “beads on a string.”

The star system known as SDSS J1531+3414, located 3.8 billion light-years from Earth, contains hundreds of individual galaxies as well as massive reservoirs of hot gas and dark matter.

Using telescopes like NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR), researchers found evidence of a massive cavity near the black hole, suggesting an explosive event had cleared away surrounding gas.

This gas, once cooled, could have condensed into the observed clusters, arranged in a striking “beads on a string” pattern.

The multiwavelength data provides signs of an ancient, titanic eruption in SDSS J1531, which a team of researchers think was responsible for creation of the 19 star clusters. Their argument is that an extremely powerful jet from the supermassive black holes in the center of one of the large galaxies pushed the surrounding hot gas away from the black hole, creating a gigantic cavity.

The evidence for a cavity comes from “wings” of bright X-ray emission, seen with Chandra, tracing dense gas near the center of SDSS J1531. These wings are the edge of the cavity and the less dense gas in between is part of the cavity. LOFAR shows radio waves from the remains of the jet’s energetic particles filling in the giant cavity. These features are highlighted in a labeled version of the image.

Visual Description:

This is an image of a cluster of galaxies called SDSS J1531+3414 in X-ray, optical, and radio light. The overall scene resembles a colorful display of lights as if viewed through a wet, glass window.

Blurry orange dots of different sizes are scattered across a black background. These orange dots are entire galaxies. Near the center of the image, two central galaxies appear as bright, white dots. Star clusters, resembling beads on a string in shades of electric blue, sweep over the galaxy on the left, through the space in between the galaxy pair, and then lightly coil beneath both galaxies. Clouds of blue, X-ray light, and dark pink, radio light, surround the two galaxies.

The blue cloud spreads out for thousands of light-years toward the region above the central galaxies. The dark pink cloud, somewhat resembling the shape of an upside down spinning top toy, stretches far below the two galaxies and slightly toward our left. This dark pink cloud represents the remains of a powerful jet, produced by a supermassive black hole within one of the two central galaxies. In the upper right corner of the image, another dark pink cloud is present. This cloud may be the relic of a counter-jet from the same black hole outburst.

This discovery not only sheds light on the dramatic power of black holes but also offers insights into the star formation process within galaxy clusters.

Further study of this system could help us understand the complex interplay between black holes and star formation in the universe.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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