特殊引力波事件指向“第二代黑洞”存在

Core Insights - The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration reported the detection of two significant gravitational wave events, GW241011 and GW241110, generated by black hole mergers, potentially indicating the existence of "second-generation black holes" [1][2] Group 1: Event Details - The first event, GW241011, occurred approximately 700 million light-years away, involving black holes with masses of about 17 solar masses and 7 solar masses, with the larger black hole being one of the fastest spinning observed [1] - The second event, GW241110, was detected about 2.4 billion light-years away, involving black holes with masses of approximately 16 solar masses and 8 solar masses, featuring a primary black hole that exhibited retrograde spin, a first in observations [1] Group 2: Scientific Implications - Both events suggest the intriguing possibility of second-generation black holes formed from the merger of first-generation black holes, which typically originate from the collapse of massive stars [2] - Second-generation black holes are generally larger and spin faster than those formed from stellar collapse, providing insights into the existence of black holes in the "mass gap" [2] - The events highlight the importance of high-density environments, such as star clusters, where black holes can come close and merge multiple times [2]