When supermassive black holes COLLIDE: Best-ever 3D simulation reveals how space-time warps during the cataclysmic event
- University of Illinois scientists create first 3D simulation of black holes
- It shows what happens when two supermassive black holes collide
- Material swirls around the objects and jets fire out from the poles
- Comes after two black holes found to be seven years from merging
A first-of-its-kind 3D simulation has revealed what happens when two supermassive black holes dramatically collide.
The video swoops around the disc of superheated material known as a quasar surrounding the black hole, showing how it takes shape.
And the simulation is particularly interesting, because recent observations show two such black holes are going to collide in just seven years - so the prediction can be tested in real life.
Scroll down for video
University of Illinois scientists have created the first 3D simulation of merging black holes (shown). It shows what happens when two supermassive black holes collide
The simulation was created by Dr Stuart Shapiro of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his colleagues.
To make the simulation, researchers used Einstein’s general theory of relativity coupled with equations that govern how matter moves near the speed of light in a magnetic field.
In the simulations, the processes taking place as the two black holes merge is shown.
As they come closer, the magnetic field lines around the two become erratic, while the jets firing out from the ‘poles’ of each object merge into one.
Gravitational waves - ripples in space-time caused by such an event - are also predicted to be created by the merge, while electromagnetic is blasted into space.
Once merged, the material around the black holes continues to swirly intensely.
Known as a quasar, this is a region of superheated dust and gas that surrounds supermassive black holes.
They are extremely bright and power the centre of galaxies. At the centre of our Milky Way, for example, a bright quasar surrounding the supermassive black hole is visible.
Material swirls around the objects in a quasar and jets fire out from the poles in the merger. It comes after two black holes were found to be seven years from merging
The simulation takes on added significance because, just the other day, it was revealed that two black holes 10.4 billion light years away are likely to collide in seven years.
The discovery was made using data from the Pan-Starrs telescope in Hawaii.
Each of the black holes found inside the quasar PSO J334.2028+01.4075 has the mass of ten billion suns, and this simulation could provide an insight into what will happen if - or when - they merge.
‘As a technical achievement, there’s no doubt that this [simulation] is a giant step forward,’ Dr Cole Miller of the University of Maryland in College Park, who was not involved in the study, told Nature News.
‘This merger would be amazing, if we saw it.’
Gravitational waves - ripples in space-time caused by such an event – are also predicted to be created by the merge (illustrated), while electromagnetic is blasted into space
However, astronomers note that it is not a certainty the observed quasar has two colliding black holes inside it.
The evidence so far comes from fluctuations in the quasar’s light - but this could just be due to a single black hole and a disc, rather than an orbiting partner.
Nonetheless, astronomers will be keen to observe it in further detail in case their predictions turn out to be correct.
And if so, it could also provide a rare opportunity to observe gravitational waves - ripples in space time that occur during such a massive event like this.
- Muscle man who is out-flexed by woman at football game
- Pimple porn: Dermatologist becomes viral YouTube star
- Shocking moment police deputy shoots dead pet Rottweiler
- 'Not heroes, just tourists': Swedish cops stop subway...
- Sawyer Sweeten interviewed with siblings Madylin and...
- Kim Richards leaves hotel after explosive Dr Phil interview
- How does my story end?: Bruce Jenner ponders the future
- 15-year-old charged as mom identifies him in surveillance
- Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten on Everybody Loves Raymond
- Once you pop! Girl tries Kylie Kenner challenge with Pringle...
- Angelina Jolie pleads with UN to help Syrian refugees
- Nurse yelps with joy as previously paralysed girl stands up
- 'He showed no sign of depression, no sign of anything':...
- 'I'm a woman': Tearful Bruce Jenner reveals he considered...
- Father pens candid obituary for drug-addict daughter, 24,...
- Special Envoy Angelina rips UN's 'paralysis' over Syria's...
- Images of transgender prisoner whose face was 'pulverized'...
- Jealous 'hillbilly' ex, 24, found guilty of murder after...
- Charles' and Di's 'secret daughter': Wills and Harry have an...
- William and Kate's pre-baby shopping spree: Duke and Duchess...
- Anger after white people and men are banned from...
- Teen, 15, who sexually assaulted, robbed and beat woman in...
- Revealed: Harrowing photo collection smuggled out of Armenia...
- Kris Jenner DID know about Bruce Jenner's transition attempt...