ALMA Shines New Light on Galaxies in Early Universe
As part of the crystal survey (CII resolved the ISM in stars formation galaxies with Alma), astronomers looked when the universe was only about a billion years.
The impression of this artist of the formation of a galaxy in the early universe with tufts of stars formation galaxies, with carbon gas illustrated in red and dark dust shown in black. This process is documented in detail in the many galaxies observed in the Alma crystal survey. Image credit: NSF / AUI / NRAO / B. SAXTON.
“Alma’s incredible capacity to see through dust and gas allowed us to observe these distant galaxies in remarkable details,” said Dr. Rodrigo Ignacio Herrera Camus, astronomer of Universidad de Conceptción.
“We don’t only see spots of light; We solve the internal structures of these galaxies and learn the processes that occur in them. ”
In the crystal survey, astronomers focused on a sample of star formation galaxies that showed the typical relationship between the mass of a galaxy and its star formation rate.
Alma’s observations revealed that certain galaxies showed signs of ordered rotation, suggesting the formation of early records. Others have shown chaotic movements and disturbed forms, indicating the galaxies that collide and fusion.
Alma also detected gas clouds, revealed by their emission from a specific type of light from ionized carbon, extending far beyond the regions where the stars have formed. This suggests that galaxies are surrounded by large gas reservoirs, potentially supplying the formation of future stars or expelled by powerful outings.
Many galaxies have shown stars formation occurring in separate tufts, providing information on how the stars were born in these first systems.
The family portrait of the training of the first galaxies was created from the search for the crystal survey. Image credit: Grand program crystal.
A particularly intriguing discovery is the discovery of a first galaxy called Cristal-10.
This galaxy has an extreme deficit in ionized carbon emission compared to its distant infrared light, a relationship similar to that observed in ARP 220, one of the brightest and most obscured galaxies in the local universe.
A more in -depth study of this galaxy could reveal the source of power and the physical state of the interstellar environment in the early universe.
“Cristal provides the detailed data type that was simply not possible before Alma,” said Dr. Herrera Camus.
“We have a new family portrait of Early Galaxy Evolution.”
“These observations question our existing models of galaxies training and provide new ways to research.”
“The crystal survey demonstrates the power of Alma to study the evolution of the galaxy in the early universe.”
“By tracing the cold gas and the dust that feeds the formation of fuel stars, Alma helps scientists bring the story of the way in which galaxies like our own Milky Way have become.”
