Chaotic Early Universe Supercharged Black Hole Growth, Study Reveals

Astronomers may have solved a cosmic riddle: how did black holes become supermassive so quickly after the Big Bang?

Researchers at Maynooth University propose that the chaotic conditions of the early universe enabled small black holes to grow rapidly into supermassive ones. Simulations show that first-generation black holes—formed 100-300 million years after the Big Bang—could reach tens of thousands of solar masses through a process called 'super Eddington accretion.' This mechanism allows black holes to bypass typical growth limits by consuming material at an extreme rate.

Daxal Mehta said:

"We found that the chaotic conditions that existed in the early Universe triggered early, smaller black holes to grow into the super-massive black holes we see later following a feeding frenzy which devoured material all around them."

Dr. Lewis Prole added:

"This breakthrough unlocks one of astronomy's big puzzles."

Early galaxies were dense and gas-rich, creating environments where black holes could grow without the usual constraints. Dr. John Regan noted:

"The early Universe is much more chaotic and turbulent than we expected, with a much larger population of massive black holes than we anticipated too."

This research challenges the long-held assumption that 'heavy seed' black holes (massive from formation) were necessary for supermassive growth. Instead, 'light seed' black holes (smaller initial masses) could suffice under the right conditions.

The findings align with observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, which has detected massive black holes in the early universe.

These insights have implications for future missions like LISA, which may detect mergers of rapidly growing early black holes. The study suggests that turbulence and density in the early universe played a critical role in accelerating black hole growth, reshaping our understanding of cosmic evolution.

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