Understanding the Rapid Growth of Black Holes

When matter is thrown at a black hole that is accreting, it causes the glow of the accretion disk to brighten. However, putting too much matter in at once can result in it puffing out and blowing away, slowing down the accretion process. The rapid growth of black holes, especially in the early universe, is a mystery. Various theories suggest that the first stars were massive, leaving behind massive remnants that allowed black holes to grow quickly. Other ideas propose that the way matter falls into a black hole can overcome outward radiation pressure. Despite uncertainties, it is known that supermassive black holes exist in large galaxies. The supermassive black hole in our galaxy, Sagittarius A star, is about four million times more massive than the Sun, and its nomenclature is a source of frustration in the field of astrophysics.