Astronomers Uncover How Black Holes Sustain Themselves Through Complex Feeding Mechanism

Astronomers have revealed new insights into how the universe's most massive black holes maintain themselves by utilizing surrounding gas. Conducted by a team led by Valeria Olivares from the University of Santiago de Chile, the research utilized data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope in Chile to study seven galaxy clusters.

The findings demonstrate that black hole outbursts activate a self-sustaining feeding process. When these black holes consume surrounding gas, they release powerful jets that cool the gas, leading to the formation of narrow filaments of warm gas. These processes are visibly represented in the Perseus and Centaurus galaxy clusters, where glowing filaments and colorful gas aesthetics illustrate this mechanism.

The study found a correlation between the brightness of hot gas and warm gas in these clusters, indicating that when hot gas shines brighter, it enhances the glow of the warm gas, thus confirming the feeding cycle of black holes. This cyclical feeding not only fuels more outbursts but also connects phenomena observable in different cosmic structures, such as the tails of "jellyfish galaxies."

The research highlights the collaboration of experts from various countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, and Italy, showcasing the integration of advanced astronomical tools to deepen our understanding of the universe's workings.