Gas Density Maps of Supermassive Black Hole Merger (IMAGE)

Ohio Supercomputer Center

Gas Density Maps of Supermassive Black Hole Merger

Caption

In simulations conducted at the Ohio Supercomputer Center, Ohio State astronomer Stelios Kazantzidis found that in minor mergers of disk galaxies, the growth of supermassive black holes is governed by complex factors. This screenshot shows gas density maps that correspond to the moment just before and after the orbit of a secondary supermassive black hole loops into the disk of the primary.

Credit

Stelios Kazantzidis, The Ohio State University

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