Gravitational lensing occurs when a massive object, such as a galaxy, bends the light from a more distant source. In this case, the powerful gravitational field of a foreground elliptical galaxy distorts the light from the quasar, creating a bright arc and multiple images of the quasar. This effect makes the quasar appear as a sparkling ring, resembling a piece of jewelry.
Quasars are incredibly bright active galactic nuclei powered by supermassive black holes. The quasar RX J1131-1231 is particularly bright due to the large amounts of gas and dust falling into the central black hole. This process causes the region around the black hole to shine intensely. The gravitational lensing effect allows astronomers to study regions close to the black hole in distant quasars, providing valuable insights into the behavior and growth of these massive objects.
Representative image of a quasar
The elliptical galaxy responsible for the gravitational lens appears as a tiny blue dot at the center of the ring. The galaxy acts as a natural telescope, magnifying the light from the distant quasar that would otherwise be too faint to observe. The image, captured by the JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), is part of an observational program focused on studying dark matter, an invisible form of matter that accounts for most of the universe’s mass.
Measurements of the X-ray emission from quasars can indicate how fast the central black hole is spinning. This information provides important clues about how black holes grow over time. For example, if a black hole forms primarily from galaxy mergers and collisions, it should accumulate material in a stable disk and eventually spin rapidly. In contrast, if the black hole were expanding through numerous small accretion episodes, it would accumulate material from all directions.
Observations have shown that the black hole in quasar RX J1131-1231 is spinning at more than half the speed of light. This suggests that the black hole grew through mergers, rather than material being pulled in from different directions. The JWST’s observations of quasars are allowing astronomers to probe the nature of dark matter on smaller scales than ever before.
The jewel ring image is not only visually stunning, it is also scientifically significant. It provides a unique window into the distant universe and helps researchers understand the complex processes that govern the behavior of supermassive black holes and the formation of galaxies. The JWST continues to push the boundaries of our knowledge, revealing hidden wonders of the cosmos and opening up new possibilities for discovery.