Produced by: Tarun Mishra
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) suggest that black holes swiftly halt star formation in massive galaxies by expelling substantial amounts of gas.
An international team, led by Dr. Rebecca Davies from Swinburne University of Technology, discovered that over 90% of the galactic wind consists of neutral gas, previously invisible in studies.
This research offers the first direct confirmation that supermassive black holes can effectively quench star formation in galaxies.
Unlike previous studies focusing on ionized gas, JWST's ability to detect neutral gas, which is colder, unveiled new insights into galactic dynamics.
Dr. Davies emphasizes the significant impact of black-hole-driven outflows on galaxy evolution, as evidenced by the removal of gas at a rate surpassing star formation.
Star formation cessation, or quenching, marks a pivotal phase in a galaxy's life cycle, transitioning from activity to dormancy, yet the precise mechanisms remain unclear.
Collaborating with lead author Sirio Belli from the University of Bologna, Dr. Davies studied a distant galaxy, offering insights into AGN-driven outflows over a span of more than 10 billion years.
The JWST's capability to observe cooler, neutral gas phases has revolutionized the understanding of AGN-driven outflows, revealing previously unseen mass expulsion.
The team anticipates further discoveries as they analyze additional galaxies using the JWST, expanding knowledge of galactic dynamics and black hole influence.