In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope have identified the most distant active supermassive black hole known to date. The galaxy housing this remarkable black hole, CEERS 1019, existed just over 570 million years after the big bang. What makes this finding even more remarkable is the relatively small size of the black hole compared to others observed in the early universe.
With a mass of approximately 9 million solar masses, CEERS 1019’s black hole is significantly less massive than its counterparts detected in the early universe by other telescopes. Typically, these behemoth black holes contain more than 1 billion times the mass of the Sun and are easier to detect due to their brightness. In contrast, CEERS 1019’s black hole shares similarities with the one at the centre of our Milky Way galaxy, weighing around 4.6 million times the mass of the Sun. Despite being smaller, this black hole’s existence so soon after the universe’s birth poses a challenge to our understanding of how black holes formed in their early stages.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) Survey, led by Steven Finkelstein from the University of Texas at Austin, played a pivotal role in these discoveries. By combining detailed near- and mid-infrared images with spectral data, the researchers could confirm the presence of these distant black holes and gain valuable insights into their host galaxies.
The team also identified eleven galaxies dating back to a period when the universe was only 470 to 675 million years old. This finding is particularly noteworthy as these galaxies exhibit rapid star formation rates and offer a glimpse into the early stages of galaxy evolution. The precise measurements provided by Webb’s sensitive spectra enabled the researchers to determine the distances and ages of these galaxies accurately.
Rebecca Larson, who led the discovery of CEERS 1019, expressed the excitement of exploring the wealth of data gathered by the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope’s ability to analyze spectral lines and differentiate emissions from black holes and their host galaxies proved instrumental in unravelling the mysteries of these distant cosmic entities.
Moreover, the CEERS Survey has brought to light two additional smaller black holes. The first, located within galaxy CEERS 2782, existed 1.1 billion years after the big bang. The second, situated in galaxy CEERS 746, predated it slightly at 1 billion years. These black holes, weighing around 10 million times the mass of the Sun, are considered “lightweight” compared to previously detected supermassive black holes at similar distances. The findings suggest that lower-mass black holes might be more common in the early universe than previously thought.
Dale Kocevski, a member of the CEERS team, highlighted the revolutionary nature of the James Webb Space Telescope’s observations. Prior to Webb, these black holes were too faint to be detected, appearing as ordinary star-forming galaxies to other telescopes. Kocevski further emphasized the potential presence of countless yet-to-be-discovered lower-mass black holes in the universe.
The discoveries made by the CEERS Survey have far-reaching implications, potentially reshaping our understanding of star formation and galaxy evolution throughout cosmic history. With Webb’s unprecedented capabilities, researchers can now accurately measure and investigate these distant objects, allowing for a better understanding of early black hole formation and the evolution of the universe in its nascent stages.
The initial findings from the CEERS Survey have been documented in several papers, including those led by Larson, Kocevski, Arrabal Haro, and Fujimoto, which will be published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The James Webb Space Telescope, an international program led by NASA in collaboration with the ESA and the Canadian Space Agency, promises to unlock the mysteries of our universe, providing invaluable insights into our cosmic origins and our place within it.