Lecture on Black Holes and Cosmic Phenomena

Introduction to Swift Satellite

• Swift Satellite: A satellite telescope constantly patrolling space.
• Swift detects cosmic disasters and alerts astronomers on Earth.
• Focus on observing supernovae, the death throes of stars leading to black holes.

The Nature of Black Holes

• Black holes: regions of infinite density where nothing escapes, not even light.
• Creation of energy fields and potential to affect galaxies across vast distances.
• Discovery of supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies, including the Milky Way.

The Role of Black Holes in the Universe

• Black holes are theorized to be born from supernovae of massive stars.
• Matter warps space-time: a concept from Einstein's theory of relativity.
• Space-time warping creates gravity; massive objects like black holes create holes in space.

Discovery of the Milky Way's Black Hole

• Early challenges included cosmic dust obscuring the galactic center.
• Infrared technology enabled astronomers to see through the dust.
• Andrea Ghez and Eric Becklin used Adaptive Optics to clarify images of stars orbiting the galactic center.
• Stars' rapid orbiting confirmed the presence of a massive black hole.

Characteristics of the Milky Way's Black Hole

• Supermassive black hole: 3 million times the mass of the Sun.
• Evidence through the movement and acceleration of stars.
• The galaxy is not unique; many galaxies have central supermassive black holes.

Galactic Evolution and Black Holes

• Galaxies grow through mergers, contributing to larger black holes.
• Galactic cannibalism: galaxies consume smaller galaxies, merging their central black holes.

Impact of Black Holes on Surrounding Galaxies

• Black holes emit powerful jets of energy when matter spirals into them.
• These energy jets can prevent star formation and potentially sterilize galaxies.

Current Activity of the Milky Way’s Black Hole

• Recent detection of flares indicates occasional feeding of the Milky Way’s black hole.
• Black hole's activity may increase significantly in millions of years.

Future Intergalactic Events

• Upcoming collision with Andromeda Galaxy in a few billion years.
• Likely merger of Milky Way and Andromeda's central black holes.
• Possible scenarios include spectacular cosmic events or displacement of the solar system.

Conclusion

• Black holes, once considered oddities, are integral to understanding the universe.
• They shape galaxies and cosmic events, playing a major role in the evolution of the cosmos.

References

• Mention of "Nova" program funding and production details.