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Insights into Supermassive Black Holes: The Case of AT 2021hdr

Recent research highlights the interactions between supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and surrounding gas clouds, suggesting that these clouds can be significantly influenced by SMBHs, particularly in binary systems. As elucidated in a recent study, the size and dynamics of gas clouds can rival, or even exceed, the binary separation of the black holes, setting them apart from the smaller stellar objects typically found in such environments.

According to findings from a prior study, gas clouds are particularly susceptible to the gravitational pull exerted by SMBH binaries. The case of AT 2021hdr exemplifies this, as it is believed that the black holes within this system accrete significant amounts of material whenever they orbit each other. Specifically, as they move through the gas cloud, their gravity displaces portions of it, feeding it into their accretion disks. These black holes potentially draw in between three and thirty percent of the gas cloud with each orbit, illustrating the significant scale of material involved.

Furthermore, predictive models suggest that the two supermassive black holes in AT 2021hdr are on a trajectory to collide and merge in approximately 70,000 years. This dynamic system is further complicated by the ongoing merger of their host galaxy with a neighboring one, a phenomenon previously documented by the research team. Importantly, this galactic merger does not interfere with the black holes’ ability to disrupt the gas cloud.

Ongoing observation of AT 2021hdr may offer critical insights into the behavior of SMBHs and their interactions with gas clouds, potentially confirming or refuting theories about their accretion processes. Current evidence points to the intriguing possibility that these black holes actively consume the gas cloud itself, rather than merely inhaling remnants from stars or other celestial objects.

For more information, reference the study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2024. DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202451305.

Source
arstechnica.com