How U of A researchers link black holes to star growth slowdown | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Supermassive black holes, often considered the universe’s most extreme objects, are now seen as cosmic predators that can slow star growth in galaxies millions of light-years away. This revelation, highlighted by researchers at the University of Arizona, sheds light on the interconnected nature of galaxies.

Led by Yongda Zhu, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona, the study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters found that active black holes emit intense radiation that affects star formation beyond their host galaxies. “Traditionally, people have thought that because galaxies are so far apart, they evolve largely on their own,” Zhu said. “But we found that a very active, supermassive black hole in one galaxy can affect other galaxies across millions of light-years.”

The research team used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to measure emissions of O III gas in galaxies surrounding the luminous quasar J0100+2802. The findings revealed that galaxies within a million-light-year radius of a quasar showed weak O III emissions, indicating suppressed star formation. “Black holes are known to ‘eat’ a lot of stuff, but during the active eating process and in their luminous quasar form, they also emit very strong radiation,” Zhu said.

This study provides the first evidence that quasar radiation impacts the universe on an intergalactic scale. Zhu explained, “Quasars don’t just suppress stars in their host galaxies, but also in nearby galaxies within a radius of at least a million light-years.”

The JWST’s ability to detect faint infrared signals from early-universe phenomena made this discovery possible. The team hopes to explore whether this effect is widespread and understand the role of supermassive black holes in galaxy evolution. “Understanding how galaxies influenced one another in the early universe helps us better understand how our own galaxy came to be,” Zhu said.