Most active galactic nuclei are powered by:
A)supermassive black holes.
B)a large number of supernovae.
C)mergers of compact objects.
D)black hole mergers.
E)extra-terrestrial civilizations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Most active galactic nuclei are powered by supermassive black holes at their centers, which accrete matter and release large amounts of energy in the form of radiation and jets. The other choices listed are not known to play a significant role in powering these phenomena. Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are powered by accretion of matter onto a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. This process releases a tremendous amount of energy and produces the signature emission observed from AGN, such as jets and high-energy radiation. Supernovae, compact object mergers, and extra-terrestrial civilizations are not known to provide enough energy to power AGN. Black hole mergers may produce energy, but they do not occur frequently enough in AGN to be a primary energy source.

Most Active Galactic Nuclei Are Powered By