The binary system VFTS 243, located in the Tarantula Nebula of the Large Magellanic Cloud, challenges conventional theories of black hole formation. Research by an international team has revealed that massive black holes can form directly from the collapse of massive stars without the dramatic supernova explosions typically associated with stellar death. In this system, a massive star (25 times the Sun’s mass) is paired with a black hole (about 10 times the Sun’s mass). The researchers noted that in such collapses, energy loss occurs predominantly through lightweight neutrinos, resulting in minimal asymmetry and only a small “natal kick” for the newly formed black hole. Unlike neutron stars, which have observable high-velocity natal kicks post-supernova, black holes’ formation processes remain poorly understood. Recent findings from VFTS 243 indicate that some massive stars may collapse into black holes without any explosive ejection of matter, thus providing an opportunity to study stellar collapse dynamics. This research, utilizing advanced stellar models, emphasizes the critical role of neutrinos emitted uniformly during the collapse process, offering valuable insights into black hole formation in the universe.
