This research marks another breakthrough in our understanding of the early universe, demonstrating that even fundamental physics can sometimes be bent in ways we never expected. It seems that when it comes to cosmic appetites, some black holes don't just break the rules - they devour them.
The researchers observed a low-mass black hole (LID-568) from approximately 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). By analyzing spectral data from the Near-Infrared Spectrograph and Mid-Infrared Instrument on JWST, they identified signs of rapid growth, or "super-Eddington accretion," where the black hole pulls in material at a rate far exceeding standard limits. This accretion phase was marked by high-velocity outflows, evidenced by specific spectral lines in the data that indicate material moving away from the black hole at significant speeds.
The study found that LID-568 has a mass of around 7.2 million solar masses and is accreting at over 4,000% of the Eddington limit. The high-energy emissions and dusty appearance suggest that it is in a rare and intense growth phase. Compared to other active galactic nuclei (AGN) discovered by JWST, LID-568 emits stronger X-ray signals, implying that it is more active and possibly obscured by dust. The extended Hα emission showed that material was being expelled from the black hole's center at velocities of about 500-600 kilometers per second, suggesting powerful outflows likely due to the black hole's rapid intake of material.
The study faced challenges in interpreting the origin of outflows. The researchers could not rule out that some observed emissions could stem from a merger event rather than purely from the black hole's activity. Additionally, they used single-epoch measurements to estimate the black hole's mass, which may introduce slight uncertainties. The extreme accretion rate observed is also based on specific models that assume continuous super-Eddington activity, which may not apply universally across similar black holes.
LID-568 represents a missing piece in understanding how early black holes could have grown so rapidly. This discovery supports theories suggesting that black holes could undergo phases of super-Eddington accretion, enabling faster growth. The study's findings highlight the potential role of black holes in influencing their surroundings through intense energy release, possibly even affecting star formation in their host galaxies by expelling or heating nearby gas.
The research was supported by multiple institutions, including the Gemini Observatory, National Science Foundation, INAF, and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. The study utilized data from NASA's JWST and ALMA observatories, and no competing interests were declared by the authors.