Detecting the initial propulsion force that thrust a newborn black hole across cosmic expanse, scientists record crucial data
In a significant breakthrough for astrophysics, a team of international researchers, including Koustav Chandra from Pennsylvania State University, have published a study on the detection of a runaway black hole's natal kick. The study, published on Sept. 9 in the journal Nature Astronomy, sheds light on the mysterious phenomenon that occurs when two black holes merge, causing the newly-formed black hole to ricochet off into the universe.
The discovery was made in 2019, when scientists detected a gravitational wave signal from a violent merger between black holes of vastly different sizes. The signal resulted from a merger of two stellar-mass black holes: one 29.7 times as massive as the sun and the other 8.4 times as massive. By studying the gravitational waves, the researchers were able to determine the mass ratio and spin of the two original black holes, which, in turn, helped them understand the speed and direction of the natal kick.
The newly-merged black hole was found to be moving at more than 31 miles per second (50 kilometers per second) after the collision, a speed that is more than enough to enable it to escape its original cluster and become a runaway black hole. The newborn black hole was catapulted out of its original cluster of stars due to the natal kick.
Understanding the speed and direction of kicks is essential for tracking the formation of supermassive black holes, which can be 100,000 to 50 billion times the mass of the sun. By looking from different angles, researchers can find the direction of the kick and determine its speed. In this case, the team used the two angles relative to Earth to determine the direction of the kick and found that the newborn black hole raced away from its birth site at an astonishing 111,600 miles per hour (179,600 kilometers per hour).
The astronomers who measured the recoil velocity of the star-black hole created by a collision event between two black holes were those involved in the LIGO and Virgo collaborations, including key contributors like Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss, and Gabriela González. The Advanced LIGO detectors in Louisiana and Washington State, and the Virgo detector in Italy recorded the GW190412 signal.
In a separate but related discovery, the researchers used the James Webb telescope to spot the earliest black hole in the known universe, looking 'as far back as you can practically go.' This finding could potentially lead to a better understanding of the universe's early stages and the formation of supermassive black holes.
The team's next steps will be to look for more black hole mergers to measure with both gravitational waves and visible light. This will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the natal kick phenomenon and contribute to the ongoing research on black hole formation and evolution.
Read also:
- Unveiling the Less-Discussed Disadvantages of Buds - Revealing the Silent Story
- Kenya broadens economic zones featuring Olkaria's geothermal energy advantage
- Nutritional Healthcare: Linking Patients with Crucial Nourishment Through Medical Professionals
- Century Lithium Announces Production of Battery-Grade Lithium Metal Anodes from Angel Island Lithium Carbonate
