3C 348 is a giant elliptical galaxy. If we look at it in visible light, it is barely distinguishable. However, at radio wavelengths it emits about a billion times more energy than the Sun. Thus the show in the image above appears.
Like the Milky Way and billions of other galaxies in the cosmos, 3C 348 hosts a central black hole. This is equivalent to 2,500 million solar masses. From there, powerful and enormous jets of plasma emerge that extend for over one and a half million light years. They are the ones that look like pink balloons in the image above.
These jets, revealed by the observatory’s radio data Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA)they are formed by charged particles accelerated to speeds close to that of light, which start from the vicinity of the black hole. Invisible in the optical field, they appear only at certain wavelengths, such as radio.
The generator of the pink rays in the image is the black hole of Hercules A. It is the brightest radio-emitting object in the constellation of the same name.
Hercules A emits nearly a billion times more energy than our Sun. The jets can extend so far that they dwarf the visible galaxy from which they emerge, forming giant radio galaxies, the largest known objects in the universe.
The connection
in a new one research published in Natural astronomywe found a connection between the region adjacent to supermassive black holes like Hercules A, dominated by the innermost part of the particle jets they emit, and their host galaxy. We see hints of a physical connection between the two systems, despite their Homeric contrast in size and mass.
The galaxy’s core is activated
Supermassive black holes are relatively rare, but we believe that all galaxies contain at least one (or perhaps sometimes two) in their core. Our galaxy, for example, contains the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at its center.
Artist’s impression of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). It consists of a supermassive black hole located at the center of a huge galaxy and which accumulates matter around itself at an extraordinary rate, thus radiating profusely across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The matter forms an accretion disk around the black hole, which itself sits inside a large torus of interstellar dust.
ESA/NASA, the AVO project and Paolo Padovani
Sometimes, the supermassive black hole begins to attract cosmic gas and dust around it thanks to its powerful gravitational field, and the core of its galaxy becomes active. These materials form a hot disk of matter surrounding the black hole, the so-called accretion disk. Everything is surrounded in turn by a torus of interstellar dust a little further away.
Some of these active galactic nuclei emit powerful jets of particles coming from the accretion disk, accelerated to speeds close to the speed of light. We were able to study the orientation and morphology of these jets thanks to the high-resolution VLBI, a very ingenious observation system.
Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) It uses a large number of radio antennas at once, turning them into a giant Earth-sized radio telescope. It’s the same technique used to photograph the halo around the supermassive black hole M87 or Sagittarius A*.
Particle jets from black holes
The origin of the gigantic jets is in the area adjacent to the black hole, a large region little (a few light years). However, they extend immensely, reaching the size of millions of light years.
Observing this area surrounding black holes is only possible with VLBI; We can’t see it even with the best optical telescopes. The analysis of these exciting regions made it possible to understand the orientation of the particle jets emitted by the black holes. Once we detect this orientation, we can also know what the orientation of the accretion disk they come from is. This is how we know the properties of the black hole.
After knowing them, we compare them with the galaxies that host them. The difference in size between one thing and another is so enormous that we didn’t expect to find a relationship. It’s like comparing a grain of sand to Saturn and hoping there is some connection. But it’s there. We have found a disturbing and surprising clue that connects them.
Host galaxies for black holes
A galaxy is a three-dimensional cosmic object, composed of millions of stars. When we observe them with optical or infrared telescopes, the apparent image, resulting from the projection, is a spiral or an ellipse. In each of these observations we can trace its light profile and extract the semimajor and minor axes of the two-dimensional shape.
In our research we observed which direction the semi-minor axis of the two-dimensional shape of the galaxy takes, and we compared it with the orientation of the jets emitted by black holes in active nuclei. Here it is! The galaxy points in the same direction as the jets of particles emitted by the supermassive black hole at its center. Is it a coincidence? It almost never is.
Let us not forget the size disparity between a black hole (on the order of light years) and the host galaxy (millions of light years in size) to understand the surprising nature of the finding.
elliptical galaxies
In our research we also found that the majority of active galactic nuclei with jets, observed using VLBI, correspond to elliptical galaxies. These types of galaxies are very
The definitive physical interpretation of our results is currently a mystery, but it is not the only one. Recently, the The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered ultramassive quasars (therefore with supermassive black holes) which formed much earlier than expected and it is not possible to explain how it happened.
This, together with our results, indicates that our knowledge of how galaxies form and evolve, and the role that black holes play in this, would need to be updated.
How do jets from supermassive black holes influence galaxy evolution?
Interview: Unraveling the Mysteries of 3C 348 with Dr. Elena Martinez
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. Martinez! It’s wonderful to have you here to discuss your recent findings on the giant elliptical galaxy 3C 348 and its fascinating properties. To start off, could you explain why 3C 348 is so intriguing to astronomers?
Dr. Elena Martinez: Thank you for having me! 3C 348 is a truly remarkable galaxy. At first glance, it may seem unimpressive in visible light; however, when we observe it at radio wavelengths, it emits an astounding amount of energy—about a billion times more than our Sun. This significant energy output makes it a key subject for studying the complexities of black holes and galaxy formation.
Time.news Editor: That’s incredible! You mentioned that 3C 348 has a supermassive black hole at its center. Could you elaborate on its characteristics and the role it plays in the galaxy?
Dr. Elena Martinez: Absolutely! The supermassive black hole in 3C 348 has a mass equivalent to 2,500 million solar masses. It acts like a cosmic engine, driving powerful jets of plasma that extend over one and a half million light years. These jets, which eject charged particles at speeds close to that of light, are nearly invisible in optical light but become spectacular in radio wavelengths, creating what looks like pink balloons in radio imagery.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like these jets are a critical feature of 3C 348. How do they relate to the galaxy as a whole?
Dr. Elena Martinez: Great question! Our recent research has uncovered a connection between the area adjacent to supermassive black holes and their host galaxies. Despite the immense differences in scale—comparing the size of these jets to the overall galaxy—they exhibit surprising interactions that hint at a physical relationship. This suggests that the dynamics at play near the black hole can influence the galaxy’s evolution.
Time.news Editor: Fascinating! For our readers who might not be familiar, could you explain how we study these jets and the supermassive black holes more generally?
Dr. Elena Martinez: Certainly! We utilize advanced observational techniques such as Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). By linking multiple radio antennas across vast distances, we create a giant Earth-sized radio telescope capable of capturing high-resolution images. This allows us to analyze the orientation and morphology of the jets, leading us to understand the characteristics of the black hole and its accretion disk.
Time.news Editor: I can see how that would be crucial for your research. You’ve also mentioned the role of accretion disks. Can you tell us a bit more about what they are and how they impact black hole activity?
Dr. Elena Martinez: An accretion disk is essentially a rotating disk of gas and dust that forms around a supermassive black hole due to its powerful gravitational pull. As material falls into the black hole, it heats up and emits energy across various wavelengths, which can make the core of galaxies like 3C 348 incredibly bright. These processes are vital for understanding black hole activity, as the jets we observe are closely tied to the matter within the accretion disk.
Time.news Editor: It’s amazing to think about the connection between the jets, the black hole, and the entire galaxy. What are the broader implications of your findings for our understanding of the universe?
Dr. Elena Martinez: Our research suggests that the interactions between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies could play a significant role in the evolution of galaxies themselves. This understanding may help us decode the mysteries surrounding the formation and growth of galaxies throughout cosmic history. Moreover, it challenges our assumptions about the scale of influence these black holes have on their surroundings.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr. Martinez, for shedding light on these complexities. Before we wrap up, what is the next step in your research?
Dr. Elena Martinez: We are planning to conduct further observations of 3C 348 and other similar galaxies to deepen our understanding of the connections we’ve found. We will be exploring how these interactions manifest in various environments within the cosmos. It’s an exciting time in astronomical research!
Time.news Editor: It certainly is! Thank you once again, Dr. Martinez, for sharing your insights. We look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
Dr. Elena Martinez: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure.