Final Parsec Problem Solved: Dark Matter's Role in Black Hole Mergers

 Scientists may have found a solution to the "final parsec problem," which has made it difficult to explain how supermassive black holes (SMBHs) form. This breakthrough points to a mysterious form of dark matter as the key to resolving the issue.

An illustration of two supermassive black holes about to collide. (Image credit: Getty)

• Supermassive black holes grow through repeated mergers of smaller holes, but their formation has been puzzling due to a persistent problem. When black holes get close, they seem to orbit indefinitely instead of merging. Known as the "final parsec problem," this issue occurs when the black holes reach a separation of about one parsec (3.26 light-years) and become stuck, unable to lose enough energy to collide and merge.

A pair of giant black holes about 3,000 light-years apart in the galaxy NGC 6240, 400 million light-years away. The galaxy's butterfly shape was caused by the collision of two smaller galaxies. (Image credit: Captured by the Chandra X-ray Observatory Photo: NASA/ CXC/ MPE/ S. Komossa et al.)

• Recent research suggests that self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) could help black holes lose the remaining energy necessary for their final mergers. This interaction absorbs the power, allowing the black holes to merge within a billion years, which may explain the background hum of gravitational waves scientists have detected.

The discovery sheds light on black hole mergers and offers insights into the elusive nature of dark matter. Future observations may confirm this theory, opening up a new understanding of the universe's hidden components.

By:- Ranjan

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