How a Scientist Weighed Black Holes Invisible to The Naked Eye
Joseph Simon, a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, employed computer simulations to make predictions about the masses of the largest supermassive black holes existing in the universe.
In a press statement, Simon highlighted the substantial mass of the black hole situated at the center of our galaxy, which is millions of times the mass of the sun. However, there are also other black holes that scientists believe could be billions of times the mass of the sun. This leads to the intriguing question of what the masses of the most massive black holes could be.
Weighing the heaviest black holes
Simon’s calculations contribute to the growing body of scientific research indicating that black holes were significantly larger billions of years ago than previously hypothesized. The researcher’s findings are documented in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Simon expressed that there is emerging evidence from various sources indicating the presence of remarkably massive entities in the universe from early stages.
To perform his calculations, Simon collected extensive data on hundreds of thousands of galaxies, including those with ages spanning billions of years. Utilizing this data, the researcher estimated the approximate masses of black holes residing in the largest galaxies across the universe.
In addition to determining black hole masses, Simon’s calculations were employed to simulate the potential gravitational wave background generated by these galaxies. The gravitational wave background refers to the continuous flow of gravitational waves propagating throughout the cosmos. These waves, characterized as ripples in the fabric of space-time, are predominantly produced during the merging of black holes.
Unveiling the Enigmatic Scale of Ancient Galaxies
In a surprising revelation, Simon’s calculations indicated that galaxies in the universe billions of years ago were considerably larger than previously assumed. This challenges the expectation that only relatively massive systems would be observed in the nearby universe. Simon noted that the growth of black holes requires time, hence their presence in earlier times.
Driven by a desire to delve deeper into the past, the scientist now aims to explore even more remote periods. Understanding the masses of black holes holds paramount importance for addressing fundamental inquiries concerning the gravitational wave background, as well as the growth of galaxies and the evolution of our universe.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the gravitational wave background, scientists need precise knowledge about the maximum size supermassive black holes can attain in the universe. As Simon explained, larger black holes generate more significant gravitational waves, akin to the concept of larger cymbals producing louder sounds.
Read the original article on Interesting Engineering.
Read more: How Supermassive Fuel-Hungry Black Holes Feed off Intergalactic Gas.
