How does a quasar hold such tremendous energy in it?
Since quasars exhibit properties common to all active galaxies, many scientists have compared the emissions from quasars to those of small active galaxies due to their similarity. The best explanation for quasars is that they are powered by supermassive black holes. To create a luminosity of 1040 W (the typical brightness of a quasar), a super-massive black hole would have to consume the material equivalent of 10 stars per year. The brightest known quasars are thought to devour 1000 solar masses of material every year. Quasars are thought to ‘turn on’ and off depending on their surroundings. One implication is that a quasar would not, for example, continue to feed at that rate for 10 billion years, which nicely explains why there are no nearby quasars. In this framework, after a quasar finishes eating up gas and dust, it becomes an ordinary galaxy.
