The James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered a colossal supermassive black hole, dubbed 'BiRD' (Big Red Dot), in the ancient universe. This discovery, made during the 'cosmic noon' era, approximately 4 billion years post-Big Bang, challenges our understanding of black hole growth. BiRD, with a mass equivalent to 100 million suns, was identified near a quasar, J1030, in a region of the sky well-studied by astronomers.
The team, led by Federica Loiacono from the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), utilized the JWST's Near-Infrared Camera to detect BiRD, a bright, point-like object not visible in prior X-ray data. Its spectrum revealed clear signals of hydrogen and helium, indicating a distance relatively close to Earth. The black hole's mass was estimated to be about 100 million times that of the sun.
Little red dots, compact objects with unique spectroscopic traits, have sparked various theories. One prevailing theory suggests they are feeding and growing supermassive black holes. However, this concept is challenged by the lack of X-ray emissions from these objects. A possible explanation is that they are still shrouded by gas and dust, absorbing high-energy X-ray radiation while allowing low-energy infrared light to pass through.
BiRD stands out among known little red dots due to its spectral similarities with only two other dots at the same cosmic distance. This discovery could reshape our understanding of little red dots and supermassive black hole growth, contradicting previous beliefs that these objects would diminish around cosmic noon. The team aims to expand the study to more nearby little red dots for a comprehensive understanding.
The research, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, opens new frontiers in extragalactic astrophysics, highlighting the JWST's role in revealing unexpected celestial phenomena.
