A tiny red light seen from the early Universe may provide the first direct evidence of how supermassive black holes formed. A research team led by astrophysicist Ignas Juodžbalis from the University of Cambridge recently measured the mass of one of these “Little Red Dots” (LRDs) using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This blob, named QSO1, is thought to have a mass equivalent to about 50 million Suns, hinting at the existence of primordial black holes formed shortly after the Big Bang.
The findings of the research team, which appears in a preprint on arXiv, suggest QSO1 might be a giant black hole that formed in an incredibly early phase of the Universe. They state, “the high mass in such a remote cosmic epoch indicates that QSO1 is a massive black hole seed caught in the earliest phases of accretion.”
JWST, the most powerful space telescope ever built, has opened our eyes to many mysteries about the early Universe. One of these mysteries is the LRDs, tiny dots of extremely red light, originating from the Epoch of Reionization. This was a time when the first stars and galaxies lit up the Universe, clearing away the fog that had blanketed it.
Detection of LRDs is challenging due to their distanced nature and the redshift phenomenon, which stretches light to longer, redder wavelengths. Despite this, JWST has identified numerous LRDs, and scientists are still deciphering what they are. While some advocate that these could be early black holes, the absence of accompanying X-ray light casts doubt on this theory. Instead, some speculate they might be clusters of stars.
QSO1 was chosen for a closer examination due to its position in a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. A massive galaxy cluster in front of QSO1 distorts space-time, allowing astronomers to see this distant object more clearly. This enabled the researchers to analyze QSO1’s light and determine the mass of its surrounding galaxy.
Their results showed that QSO1 has a rotation consistent with a galaxy that harbors a black hole of about 50 million solar masses. This intriguing detail suggests a scenario where massive black holes might have formed first, with galaxies developing around them.
Experts believe these findings could reshape our understanding of the Universe’s early formation. “The only scenarios that can account for such a system are those invoking ‘heavy seeds,’ like direct collapse black holes (DCBHs) or primordial black holes (PBHs),” the researchers noted.
However, questions remain. DCBHs should emit ultraviolet light not seen in QSO1, while PBHs typically are much smaller than 50 million solar masses. The possibility exists that QSO1 is a result of rapid growth through both accretion and collisions, making it potentially the first confirmed evidence of primordial black holes.
While the paper awaits peer review, it opens exciting avenues for future research. These LRDs might soon tell us even more about the Universe’s beginning.
The research paper is available on arXiv.
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