Boosting Supermassive Black Hole Growth in the Early Universe by Fuzzy Dark Matter Solitons

Observations of massive supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the early Universe challenge existing black hole formation models. We propose that soliton cores in fuzzy dark matter (FDM) offer a potential solution to this timing problem. Our FDM cosmological zoom-in simulations confirm that, for a particle mass m_{FDM}∼10^{-22} eV, solitons are well developed at redshift z∼7 with masses of ∼10^{9}M_{⊙}, comparable to the observed SMBHs. We then demonstrate using hydrodynamic simulations that, compared to cold dark matter, these high-z massive FDM solitons with mass M_{s} can provide additional gravitational potential to accrete gas and boost the Bondi accretion rate of a growing black hole seed with mass M_{BH} by up to 2-4 orders of magnitude, in the regime of efficient cooling and negligible radiation pressure. This accretion boosting mechanism is effective for 10^{-22}≲m_{FDM}≲10^{-20} eV and potentially beyond as long as M_{s}>M_{BH}.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical Review Letters
Published
2025-02-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.134.051402
Citations
12
Primary Topic
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
13.86

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article

Boosting Supermassive Black Hole Growth in the Early Universe by Fuzzy Dark Matter Solitons

Hsinhao Huang, M. Gaspari, Hsiang-Yi Karen Yang, Hsi-Yu Schive et al.
12 citations
Physical Review Letters
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
13.86
article

Boosting Supermassive Black Hole Growth in the Early Universe by Fuzzy Dark Matter Solitons

Hsinhao Huang, M. Gaspari, Hsiang-Yi Karen Yang, Hsi-Yu Schive, H.-H. Sandy 懷萱 Chiu 邱
article en
12 citations

Abstract

Observations of massive supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the early Universe challenge existing black hole formation models. We propose that soliton cores in fuzzy dark matter (FDM) offer a potential solution to this timing problem. Our FDM cosmological zoom-in simulations confirm that, for a particle mass m_{FDM}∼10^{-22} eV, solitons are well developed at redshift z∼7 with masses of ∼10^{9}M_{⊙}, comparable to the observed SMBHs. We then demonstrate using hydrodynamic simulations that, compared to cold dark matter, these high-z massive FDM solitons with mass M_{s} can provide additional gravitational potential to accrete gas and boost the Bondi accretion rate of a growing black hole seed with mass M_{BH} by up to 2-4 orders of magnitude, in the regime of efficient cooling and negligible radiation pressure. This accretion boosting mechanism is effective for 10^{-22}≲m_{FDM}≲10^{-20} eV and potentially beyond as long as M_{s}>M_{BH}.

Physical Review LettersVol. 134(5)
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT), National Taiwan University (TW), National Tsing Hua University (TW), University of Michigan (US), National Center for Theoretical Sciences (TW)
Ministry of Education, National Taiwan University, H2020 European Research Council
Climate action
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
13.86
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