The most massive black holes in the universe feed themselves by cooling the gas around them, astronomers discovered. Using data from the NASA Chandra X -ray Observatory and the very large telescope (VLT) in Chile, researchers have shown how black holes unleashed a self -sufficient food process.
He studyPublished in the Astronomy of Nature and directed by Valeria Olivares of the University of Santiago de Chile, he examined seven groups of galaxies. In the centers of these groups there are huge black holes, with a weight of millions to billions of times the Mass of the Sun. These black holes feed on surrounding gas, releasing powerful jets to cool gas and form filaments.
The investigation found that the outbursts of black holes cool hot gas, forming narrow hot gas filaments like bright threads. Gas turbulence plays a key role in this cooling process. Part of the warm gas returns to the black hole, feeding more outbursts and continuing the cycle.
A key discovery was that the brightness of hot gas is related to the brightness of warm gas in the centers of the groups. When hot gas shines more, warm gas shines more intensely, confirming how black holes feed on surrounding gas.
Two groups of galaxies, Perseus and Centaurus offer a surprising visit of this phenomenon.
Perseus cluster: hot gas seems blue dwelling with solid pink filaments, while surrounded galaxies shine intensely.
Centaurus cluster: gas has a softer and more diffuse appearance, with filaments that show delicate and featheous textures.
Both groups show central black holes surrounded by bright gas filaments, a visual representation of the self -sufficient food mechanism.
The study observed similarities between the gas filaments in the galaxies groups and the “jellyfish galaxies” tails, where the gas stripped as galaxies move through their surroundings. This unexpected connection suggests a shared process in different cosmic phenomena.
The investigation brought together experts from Chile, USA, Australia, Canada and Italy, taking advantage of advanced tools such as the Muse VLT instrument (Multiple Units Spectroscopic Explorer) to create 3D views of the Universe. The NASA Chandra program, administered by Alabama, provided critical X -ray data for this discovery.
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