First pair of feeding supermassive black holes found in a Green Pea galaxy

A team of astronomers has discovered the first confirmed dual active galactic nucleus (AGN) in a Green Pea galaxy. The findings were based on X-ray observations with Chandra and Keck spectroscopy, revealing two supermassive black holes in the galaxy J1622+3521. The black holes are located about 27,000 light-years apart, and their velocities are consistent with them being separate and actively feeding. The study confirms that the two black holes are part of the same galaxy, and their combined mass is approximately 39.9 million solar masses.

The research was conducted on the Green Pea galaxy J1622+3521, which is known for its complex structure and high star formation rates. The team used optical imaging and X-ray data to identify two separate cores, each with distinct redshifts and velocities. The black holes are estimated to have masses of 19.5 and 20.5 million solar masses, respectively. The study also confirmed that the light from these black holes is not from stellar formation but from the accretion process, supporting the AGN interpretation.

This discovery is significant because it provides insight into how supermassive black holes grow in compact, star-forming systems. It suggests that galaxy mergers can fuel the simultaneous growth of multiple black holes, even in low-mass systems. The findings contribute to understanding the evolution of galaxies in the early universe and the role of mergers in black hole formation. The study is published in the arXiv preprint server and is part of ongoing research into the formation and growth of supermassive black holes.

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