Most supermassive black holes are found in the heart of galaxies. They grow by pulling in gas and dust. As this material spirals in, it heats up and emits bright light, detectable from far away.
With data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers are diving into its archives to find cosmic mysteries. One intriguing discovery from the COSMOS-Web survey resembles a figure-eight shape, prompting questions about its source of brightness.
### The Infinity Galaxy
Astronomers Pieter van Dokkum from Yale University and Gabriel Brammer from the University of Copenhagen discovered this fascinating system, dubbing it the “Infinity Galaxy.” It appears between two galaxy cores, showcasing two dense, reddish bulges, each containing around 100 billion stars and separated by approximately 33,000 light-years.
Using JWST’s infrared camera, they found bright rings of stars surrounding each bulge. The COSMOS region includes a wealth of older observations, allowing for cross-comparison with other telescopes.
### Evidence of a Black Hole
To gather evidence of an active black hole, researchers utilized three main techniques: spectroscopy from the Keck Observatory, radio data from the Very Large Array, and X-ray observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
The Keck’s spectroscopy revealed strong emissions from ionized atoms, a sign of intense energy stripping electrons away. The data suggests an active supermassive black hole, as the unusual bright emissions couldn’t be explained by a typical star cluster.
According to Van Dokkum, “Everything is unusual about this galaxy. Not only does it look strange, but it also harbors a supermassive black hole pulling in significant material.”
### Hidden Gas in the Infinity Galaxy
The JWST has a filter, F150W, that lights up when detecting specific gases. In this galaxy, it revealed bright hydrogen emissions, alongside nitrogen and sulfur lines. The research team created a unique map isolating the gas glow, showing extensive ionized gas scattered between the two bulges.
They noted strong emissions suggest there’s substantial glowing gas, hinting that the black hole could have formed in this dense region, not been simply displaced there from elsewhere.
### The Collision Theory
The researchers propose that a nearly head-on collision between two galaxies might explain the unique structure of the Infinity Galaxy. During such a collision, gas clouds can collide, creating a turbulent area rich in gas, eventually leading to the formation of a black hole.
While the study considered other possibilities—like a faint third galaxy or a previously merged black hole—they found these alternatives didn’t fit well with what they observed. Instead, they leaned towards the “direct collapse” theory, where gas condenses under its gravity before forming stars. They believe this collision happened around 50 million years ago and that the black hole could grow significantly within that time frame if it efficiently consumes material.
The research team is aiming for more advanced observations to see if this intriguing gas can collapse into a black hole rather than primarily forming stars.
To explore further, you can read the full study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. This ongoing research continues to unfold the complex nature of galaxies and the supermassive black holes they may contain.
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