The formation of supermassive black holes is one of the biggest mysteries in cosmology. These black holes, found at the centers of galaxies, can have masses millions or even billions of times that of our sun. Researchers have been trying to understand how they formed and grew so quickly. A new study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics suggests that the answer may lie in ultra-dense star clusters observed by the James-Webb telescope.
Viola Bocchi led the study, which used numerical models to simulate the behavior of these star clusters. The results indicate that these clusters are ideal nurseries for the formation of supermassive black holes. They have high density and low metal content, which limits mass loss through stellar winds and allows for a high rate of star collisions and mergers. This process can lead to the formation of massive seeds that could potentially grow into supermassive black holes.
According to the simulations, these star clusters can produce seeds with masses between 1,600 and 2,700 times that of our sun. The study also found that the “Firefly Sparkle,” a distant galaxy observed 600 million years after the Big Bang, contains young star clusters that could be producing similar seeds, albeit with lower masses (ranging from 180 to 810 solar masses). These findings suggest that such star clusters may also explain the origins of mysterious “Little Red Dots” detected in the early universe.
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The researchers emphasize that while their models are promising, several uncertainties remain. The internal rotation of the star clusters, their three-dimensional structure, and their initial mass are all factors that need to be better understood. These parameters introduce uncertainties about the final masses of the potential seeds.
The James-Webb telescope’s observations of a set of very young star clusters, referred to in the study as “gemmes cosmiques” (cosmic gems), have provided insights into the formation of supermassive black holes. The telescope used gravitational lensing to study these clusters, which were observed just 460 million years after the Big Bang.
Viola Bocchi and her team’s work provides a physical framework for understanding the early stages of supermassive black hole formation, though direct observation of their birth remains unconfirmed.
