How old is the black hole
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Age of Black Holes: Insights from Recent Research
Early Universe Black Holes: Formation and Growth
Supermassive Black Holes in the First Billion Years
Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) have been observed to exist as early as the first billion years of the Universe. These black holes, with masses reaching up to billions of solar masses, present significant challenges to our understanding of black hole formation and growth. For instance, the quasar ULAS J134208.10+092838.61, observed at a redshift of 7.54, hosts a black hole with a mass of 800 million solar masses, indicating its formation when the Universe was only 690 million years old1. Similarly, the quasar SDSS J010013.02+280225.8, at a redshift of 6.30, contains a black hole with a mass of approximately 12 billion solar masses, suggesting its existence when the Universe was less than one billion years old3.
Theoretical Models and Observational Evidence
The formation of these early SMBHs is a key event in cosmology, marking the end of the cosmic dark ages and the beginning of complex structures in the Universe. Theoretical models suggest that the first black holes formed from the remnants of the first stars, which appeared a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. These black holes then grew rapidly through processes such as accretion and mergers2. Observations of these early SMBHs, such as those powered by luminous quasars, provide critical insights into their growth mechanisms and the conditions of the early Universe2 5.
Black Holes in the Centers of Galaxies
Long-Lived Black Holes
In addition to the early Universe SMBHs, black holes in the centers of galaxies can be significantly older. For example, the black hole in the center of the M87 galaxy, with a mass of 3.2 billion solar masses, is estimated to be up to 12.7 billion years old. This age suggests that such black holes formed shortly after the Big Bang and have persisted throughout the history of the Universe4.
Coevolution with Host Galaxies
The relationship between black holes and their host galaxies is complex and not fully understood. While it is generally believed that black holes and galaxies coevolve, with black hole feedback influencing star formation, observations have shown that this process does not always occur synchronously. For instance, a black hole observed in a galaxy at redshift 3.328, when the Universe was about 2 billion years old, had grown to a mass much larger than expected relative to its host galaxy, which continued forming stars at a high rate despite the presence of a massive black hole10.
Conclusion
The age of black holes varies significantly, with some forming in the first few hundred million years after the Big Bang and others persisting for billions of years. Observations of early Universe SMBHs challenge our understanding of black hole formation and growth, while studies of black holes in the centers of galaxies reveal the complex interplay between black holes and their host galaxies. These insights are crucial for developing a comprehensive picture of black hole evolution throughout cosmic history.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
An 800-million-solar-mass black hole in a significantly neutral Universe at a redshift of 7.5
This study reveals the existence of a supermassive black hole at a redshift of 7.54, when the Universe was only 690 million years old, supporting early black-hole growth models and indicating that we are probing well within the reionization epoch.
Very Rigorous Journal
Highly CitedSupermassive black holes in the early universe
The first black holes in the early universe played a key role in transforming the universe into a more complex one, and understanding their formation pathways is crucial for understanding their impact on cosmic history.
An ultraluminous quasar with a twelve-billion-solar-mass black hole at redshift 6.30
Ultraluminous quasar SDSS J010013.02+280225.8 at redshift 6.30 contains a twelve-billion-solar-mass black hole, challenging theories of black hole formation and galaxies' coevolution.
Rigorous JournalHighly CitedFormation of Gyrs old black holes in the centers of galaxies within the Lemaître–Tolman model
The Lemaître-Tolman model allows for the formation of up to 12.7 Gyrs old black holes in the centers of galaxies, with the maximum age depending on the selected parameters at the time of last scattering.
The Formation and Evolution of Massive Black Holes
Massive black holes play a major role in the evolution of galaxies, with their formation about 13 billion years ago and their growth within their host galaxies.
Highly CitedBlack hole explosions?
Black holes may have finite lives, with smaller black holes evaporating by now, and their rate of emission being similar to a body with a temperature of 106 (Mcirċ/M)K.
Highly Cited