clinden said:Each of the two BHs in the collision brought in matter and energy prior to merge
The source of 3 Sun M energy released in BH merger is the conversion of mass into energy through Einstein's famous equation, E=mc^2. In a black hole merger, the two black holes release a tremendous amount of gravitational potential energy as they merge, resulting in the release of 3 solar masses worth of energy.
The conversion of mass into energy occurs in a BH merger through the process of accretion. As the two black holes spiral towards each other, their intense gravitational pull causes matter to be pulled towards them. This matter then heats up and emits radiation, converting some of its mass into energy.
The remaining mass in a BH merger is either absorbed by the resulting black hole or is ejected outwards in the form of powerful jets of radiation. This ejected mass can also contribute to the release of energy during the merger.
The energy released in a BH merger is incredibly high, with 3 solar masses worth of energy being released in a matter of seconds. This is comparable to the amount of energy released in a supernova explosion, which is one of the most powerful events in the universe.
Yes, the energy released in a BH merger can be detected from Earth through gravitational wave detectors. These detectors measure the ripples in space-time caused by the massive objects in the universe, such as black holes. The recent detection of gravitational waves from BH mergers has provided evidence for the existence of these events and furthered our understanding of the universe.