MIT astronomers have observed the starlight surrounding some of the earliest quasars in the universe, providing clues to how the first black holes and galaxies evolved. Quasars are the center of active galaxies with supermassive black holes that consume large amounts of matter over long periods, making them some of the brightest objects in the universe. The MIT team observed the much fainter light from stars in the host galaxies of ancient quasars, finding that the central black holes were more massive relative to their host galaxies than modern ones.
The findings suggest that the earliest supermassive black holes may have grown from more massive “seeds” than their modern counterparts. These black holes, billions of times more massive than the sun, existed when the universe was still in its infancy. The research indicates that in the early universe, black holes may have gained mass before their host galaxies, with initial black hole seeds potentially being more massive than they are today. Understanding how these monster black holes grew so quickly is a key question in astrophysics.
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, the researchers were able to study six ancient quasars and distinguish the light from the central black hole from that of the host galaxy’s stars. By modeling the data collected by the telescope, they estimated that the ratio between the mass of the central black hole and the host galaxy for these quasars was about 1:10, in contrast to the 1:1,000 ratio seen in modern black holes. This suggests that black holes in the early universe grew faster than their host galaxies.
The observations of these ancient quasars shed light on the balance of mass growth between black holes and galaxies in the early universe. The researchers found tentative evidence that black holes may have gained mass earlier than their host galaxies within the first billion years of the universe’s existence. This challenges previous assumptions about the growth of black holes and galaxies and points towards the need for mechanisms to explain how black holes could gain mass faster than their surrounding galaxies in the early universe.
Overall, the study provides valuable insight into the evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxies in the early universe. By observing the starlight surrounding ancient quasars, astronomers can better understand how these early cosmic structures formed and grew to their massive sizes. The research highlights the importance of studying distant, ancient objects to unravel the mysteries of the universe’s origins and evolution. Further studies using advanced telescopes and modeling techniques will continue to deepen our understanding of the earliest quasars and their role in shaping the cosmos.
