NASA Unravels the Cosmic Mysteries of Black Hole Jets at the Dawn of the Universe

Recent observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Large Array (VLA) reveal that a black hole located 11.6 billion light years away has emitted a striking jet. This phenomenon occurred during an era known as the universe’s “cosmic noon,” approximately 3 billion years following the Big Bang. Telescopes can detect the jet due to its interaction with the thick cosmic microwave background (CMB), a residual glow from the inception of the universe. Scientists have identified two jets originating from separate black holes, with their particles traveling at nearly 99% the speed of light, providing a unique glimpse into the behavior of supermassive black holes in the early universe.

Chandra Identifies Super-Fast Black Hole Jets Through X-Ray Analysis and Relativity Framework

According to a press release from Chandra, the jets, which come from quasars J1405+0415 and J1610+1811, were observed thanks to both the sharp X-ray capabilities of the Chandra telescope and the heightened density of the early universe’s CMB. X-rays become detectable when electrons in the jets collide with the CMB. This discovery was aided by a statistical approach that accounts for the way relativistic effects amplify jets directed toward Earth, helping to solve a long-standing challenge in jet detection.

The researchers found that the particles in one of the jets were moving at speeds between 95% and 99% of light, while the other jet achieved speeds of up to 98%. The estimated angles of observation were 9 degrees and 11 degrees, respectively. Despite their origins being in different directions, both jets appeared exceptionally bright, a result of Einstein’s theory of special relativity, which enhances the appearance of jets that are oriented towards Earth, thereby concealing their true positioning.

The results, shared by Jaya Maithil from the Centre for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian at the 246th gathering of the American Astronomical Society, emphasize the role of rapidly evolving black holes in shaping the formation of galaxies during cosmic noon. The dual detection showcases how modern statistical techniques and X-ray analysis can potentially probe the earliest, most dynamic events in the universe.

These insights advance our understanding of the behavior of supermassive black holes during the epoch of maximum galactic growth. The findings, which are set to be published in The Astrophysical Journal, contribute to an accumulating body of evidence that suggests jets from black holes in the farthest corners of the universe may contain as much, if not more, energy than all the gas found in their parent galaxies.