In a study that pushes the boundaries of our understanding of black holes, astrophysicists from the Rochester Institute of Technology have unveiled new insights into the incredible speeds at which black holes might travel through space.
As Phys.org reports, the simulations suggest that some black holes could be hurtling through the cosmos at nearly one-tenth the speed of light-a discovery that challenges previous estimates and adds a new layer of complexity to black holes.
Simulations Reveal Black Holes' Surprising Speeds
The research, published in Physical Review Letters, was headed by James Healy and Carlos Lousto, who harnessed the power of supercomputer simulations to delve into the aftermath of collisions between black holes.
While it is not uncommon for black holes to merge after collisions, the process is not as straightforward as it may seem.
The merging generates gravitational waves, and as two black holes unite, a recoil effect can be unleashed. This energy can propel the newly merged black hole in the opposite direction at astonishing speeds. Check out this graphic of the black hole event from Georgia Tech:
Before this study, it was widely believed that these merged black holes might reach speeds of around 5,000 kilometers per second-a notable figure, but not the full story.
Determining the Precise Speeds of Black Holes
Healy and Lousto were driven by a curiosity to uncover the precise speeds that black holes could attain after merging. They meticulously crafted mathematical simulations that dissected various aspects of the merging process.
Among the key variables was the angle at which the black holes approached each other before the collision, a critical factor that could significantly influence the speed of the resulting merged black hole.
Executing their simulations on a supercomputer, the researchers conducted an extensive exploration involving 1,300 different collision angles. This wide-ranging investigation encompassed scenarios ranging from direct head-on collisions to near misses.
Through this comprehensive approach, they were able to unravel the intricacies of black hole dynamics with unprecedented accuracy.
Interesting Findings
Their findings painted a vivid picture of the potential speeds of merged black holes. In the optimal case of grazing collisions, the results were astounding-merged black holes could traverse space at a staggering rate of approximately 28,500 kilometers per second.
To put this into perspective, this velocity would allow the merged black hole to traverse the distance between the Earth and the moon in a mere 13 seconds.
To achieve these results, the researchers ran 1,381 simulations, each representing a unique combination of factors like black hole spin, movement, and initial velocity.
They unraveled the complexities of these cosmic collisions, considering scenarios where black holes were spinning in opposing directions while orbiting each other.
In an extreme scenario where black holes were spinning at their maximum speed, the merged entity could achieve a velocity of around 28,562 kilometers per second-a velocity that equates to about 10% of the speed of light.
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