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Shortly after the Big Bang, the first galaxies began to change the universe. Less than a billion years later, they’ve already gained a lot of weight. In particular,
Shortly after the Big Bang, the first galaxies began to change the universe. Less than a billion years later, they’ve already gained a lot of weight. In particular, central supermassive black holes were giant. New images from JWST show two large galaxies that emerged less than a billion years after the beginning of the universe.
The mass of one of the galaxies is 130 billion times greater than the mass of the Sun. The black hole-driven quasar has 1.4 billion solar masses. (A quasar is the bright, active core of a galaxy believed to be powered by a supermassive black hole.) These galaxies and their central black holes turned out to be very different sizes relative to each other. Additionally, these impressive audiences raise a few tough questions. How did they get so big so quickly in the newborn universe? And what was the first? Galaxy or black holes?
They pose the puzzle facing an international research team led by Xuheng Ding and John Silverman (both from the Kavli Institute for Physics and Mathematics of the Universe). They announced their first findings in the June 28, 2023 issue of the journal Nature.
The quasars they observed are named J2236+0032 and J2255+0251. The host galaxies were first observed by the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. Both galaxies are relatively dim and make good targets for studying the early universe. They are at redshifts of 6.4 and 6.34. They belong to a time when the universe was only 860 million years old. The research team at Kavli then used JWST to take a deeper look at these objects.
JWST observed them in the infrared wavelength range of 3.56 and 1.50 microns. Also, the JWST NIRSPEC spectrometer clarified the galaxy’s star population. Analysis of the data further clarified the mass of the two galaxies. It also revealed the velocity of the gases moving through their hearts. This allowed the team to determine the masses of the two central supermassive black holes that power these quasars.
Something jumped out of the data: the ratio of galaxies’ masses and black holes. It turns out that the size of the supermassive black hole probably corresponds to the size of the galaxy inside. Astronomers are investigating this relationship in galaxies in the near universe and have discovered that the larger the galaxy, the larger the central black hole must be. The two galaxies in the JWST discovery show the same ratio between their masses and the masses of their black holes.
The implication here is that the connection actually existed very early in cosmic history. This raises further questions about the mechanisms that connect galaxies and black hole cores to create this ratio. Astronomers offer several scenarios. First, because they are active galactic nuclei (quasars), they can initiate more star formation in the galaxy via their jets and winds. But this activity can stop the birth of new stars. This is an interesting feedback mechanism that causes the rate of star formation to follow the growth rate of the black hole. Essentially, AGNs put checks and balances in galaxy growth.
Another idea is that the mass ratio of galaxies to black holes is determined by the growth of black holes and the formation of stars using the same fuel sources. Such a scenario could happen quite easily after the merger of two fuel-rich galaxies. Mergers often drive star formation, so this may have happened to these early galaxies at a time when mergers were the dominant activity. A third scenario suggests there may only be a statistical relationship and further research is needed.
Data from the galaxies HSC J2236+0032 and HSC J2255+0251 raised questions. Now is the time to see if astronomers can observe and respond to more of these objects in the early universe. The team will continue their observations with JWST during the current cycle 1. They already have time at the telescope to study J2236+0032 in more detail to answer some of the key questions raised from the current work. In particular, these studies can tell us that galaxies or black holes appeared first. They will also reveal more details about the growth rates and black hole-driven quasars of both galaxies during these early ages in the history of the universe. Source
Source: Port Altele
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
