Context:
An international team of astronomers said the recently discovered quasar named J0529-4351 was the brightest and fastest-growing quasar discovered so far and had a supermassive black hole about 17 billion times the mass of the Sun.
Relevance:
GS III: Science and Technology
Quasars:
- A quasar is an extraordinarily active and luminous type of active galactic nucleus (AGN).
Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN):
- AGN is characterized by a supermassive black hole actively feeding at the center of a galaxy.
- Quasars are a specific subset of AGNs.
Formation and Location:
- Quasars are believed to form in regions of the universe with higher-than-average large-scale matter density.
Attributes:
- Among the most luminous, powerful, and vibrant objects known in the universe.
Formation Process:
- Active galaxies have a central supermassive black hole consuming large amounts of matter.
- Infall of matter creates a spiraling accretion disk, with material falling at varying speeds.
- Friction and collisions among fast-moving gas clouds generate heat, leading to a brilliantly shining accretion disk.
- Some material is funneled away from the black hole in a highly luminous, magnetically collimated jet.
- The combination of the hot accretion disk and the jet results in the intense brightness of the active galaxy’s nucleus, making quasars visible across vast cosmic distances.
Brightness and Distance:
- Brightest quasars can outshine all stars in their host galaxies, visible even at distances of billions of light-years.
- Many quasars have been discovered billions of light-years away.
-Source: The Hindu
