A supermassive black hole in a galaxy called VV 340a is launching a powerful jet of gas. This jet is so intense that it’s affecting how the galaxy forms new stars. Instead of moving straight, the jet wobbles and spirals, heating gas over great distances.
As this jet cuts through the galaxy, it disrupts cold gas clouds that typically collapse into stars. Over time, this can slow down or even stop star formation completely. This discovery highlights how active black holes can dramatically change their galaxies.
Led by astronomer Justin Kader, the research team is uncovering how black holes influence galactic evolution. The active core of VV 340a, known as an active galactic nucleus, is powered by the supermassive black hole consuming surrounding material.
In VV 340a, the jet doesn’t travel in a straight line; it “precesses,” which means it sweeps outward in a cone shape. This helical pattern allows it to impact more gas than a direct jet would. For the first time, such a large precessing jet has been seen in a disk galaxy, showcasing an intricate motion resembling a toy top. The spiral path of the jet allows it to heat and push gas well beyond the galaxy’s center.
The jet’s effects are significant; researchers recorded a gas outflow rate of 19.4 solar masses per year. This means that about 19 times the mass of the Sun is being stripped away from the galaxy each year, gas that would normally be used to form new stars. The gas being expelled is unusually hot and ionized, reaching areas far into the galaxy, aided by insights from infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope. These observations are crucial since infrared can penetrate the dust that blocks visible light.
To understand the dynamics in VV 340a further, the team utilized various telescopes. The James Webb Space Telescope revealed hidden structures of the gas, while the Keck Observatory and the Very Large Array mapped the visible and radio signals. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) provided precise details at sub-millimeter wavelengths.
This multi-faceted approach has offered an unprecedented look at how a black hole influences its galaxy, extending its reach far beyond its immediate vicinity. This study deepens our understanding of the complex relationship between black holes and galaxy formation, emphasizing the far-reaching effects of these cosmic giants.
For more on recent findings, check out the article on Science Daily.
