From 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope has detected hundreds of red dotspossibly formed about 600 million years after the Big Bang. Its origin has been an enigma for all this time. However, little by little the same telescope is managing to delve into some of them until making such interesting findings. like the black hole that formed before its galaxy. Now, furthermore, has done the most in-depth and detailed inspection so far one of these red dots, discovering in the process an object that until now was only considered theoretical: the black hole star.
More precision than ever. Some of these red dots have the advantage of being close to a large galactic cluster that can function as a magnifying glass. Having a great mass, its gravitational attraction deforms space time, which curves, generating a kind of lens that magnifies what is behind. This has allowed the James Webb to delve much better into the GLIMPSE-17775 red dot, obtaining the equivalent of 80 hours of observation with 30 hours of observation. Its spectrograph has revealed 40 spectral lines, the most detailed analysis of one of these red dots, and with them a pretty good idea of its composition.
black hole star. When a very massive star no longer has fuel to remain “on” it can reach a point where it collapses and becomes a black hole. Usually a complete conversion. The entire star is “replaced” by the black hole.
However, there is a hypothesis that in some cases a part of the star does not disappear, so that the black hole remains embedded inside it. This theoretical phenomenon is known as quasi star or black hole star and it would basically be a stellar-sized black hole, surrounded by a dense cocoon of partially ionized gas. It could happen, but until now none had been detected.
The 40 spectral lines. As explained by the authors of the studythe 40 spectral lines found by James Webb were like puzzle pieces lying on the ground. As they were taken and placed in their place, the black hole star appeared. For example, there were lines associated with hydrogen, oxygen and helium that do not fit the simple model of a rotating gas cloud, such as that found around a black hole.
On the other hand, there were oxygen lines that could only be formed with a large amount of energy, such as that coming from a black hole. There were also lines of iron that would correspond to those that form in a star that is already fusing its last fuel reserves. Finally, there were lines that would correspond to a scattering of electrons like the one that would take place in that cocoon of dense gas.
Everything fits. The spectrum also revealed the existence of fluorescence and helium absorption, both characteristics that fit with a dense medium that surrounds a powerful energy source. Everything fits with the black hole star. In fact, it is possible that other red dots are also red, since that would explain why they emit so few X-rays. The cocoons of star debris would be absorbing the black hole’s emissions, preventing them from being detected by telescopes.
Other red dots will have to continue to be analyzed, but it seems that they are becoming less enigmatic than when they were discovered. All thanks to James Webb.
Image | NASA, ESA, CSA, Vasily Kokorev (UT Austin); Image processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
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