Stellar processes in these early galaxies, such as supernovae, enhance gas within the galaxy with components heavier than helium, consisting of carbon. Related processes can even eject some of this material back out into the IGM.
Direct imaging on the gas recycling around massive galaxy 11 billion years back. Credit: Department of Astronomy, Tsinghua University
Theory forecasts that the enriched gas might subsequently be recycled, accreting back into galaxies, providing additional fuel to sustain rapid star development for longer. Observations of enriched gas feeding high-redshift galaxies are restricted.
Shiwu Zhang, Zheng Cai, and coworkers utilize the Keck II and Subaru telescopes to observe gas surrounding an enormous galaxy at redshift 2.3. In addition to helium and hydrogen, spectra of this area reveal emission lines of ionized carbon, suggesting that the CGM gas surrounding the galaxy has actually been enhanced in aspects much heavier than helium. Kinematic modeling of the observations recommends that streams of the enriched gas are spiraling toward the huge galaxy.
Based upon the findings, Zhang, Cai et al. propose that the observed inflowing enriched gas was recycled from an earlier period of star development and compute that it might sustain the observed star formation rate of the galaxy.
Reference: “Inspiraling streams of enriched gas observed around a massive galaxy 11 billion years earlier” 4 May 2023, Science.DOI: 10.1126/ science.abj9192.
Scientists have discovered proof of enriched gas recycling throughout galaxy development in the early Universe by observing an enormous galaxy at redshift 2.3 utilizing the Keck II and Subaru telescopes. The gas surrounding the galaxy consists of elements heavier than helium, which are thought to be the outcome of outstanding processes such as supernovae. Kinematic modeling of the observations reveals that streams of this enriched gas spiral into the galaxy, supplying additional fuel for quick star development. Credit: Department of Astronomy, Tsinghua University
Scientists have actually observed a huge galaxy at redshift 2.3, discovering that streams of enriched gas, including aspects much heavier than helium, spiral into the galaxy, supplying additional fuel for rapid star formation. This supports the theory of enriched gas recycling during galaxy formation in the early Universe.
Streams of intergalactic gas, improved with aspects heavier than helium, encircle and spiral into an enormous galaxy observed at redshift 2.3, scientists report. The findings offer evidence of enriched gas recycling during galaxy formation in the early Universe.
Galaxies form through the accretion of gas from the circumgalactic medium (CGM) and intergalactic medium (IGM), which consequently condenses into stars. Simulations and observations have shown that cold stream accretion– the build-up of beautiful intergalactic gas that includes almost no elements much heavier than helium– supplies fuel for the star formation rate of galaxies in the early Universe.
Scientists have actually found evidence of enriched gas recycling during galaxy development in the early Universe by observing a massive galaxy at redshift 2.3 using the Keck II and Subaru telescopes. Kinematic modeling of the observations shows that streams of this enriched gas spiral into the galaxy, offering additional fuel for fast star formation. In addition to helium and hydrogen, spectra of this area reveal emission lines of ionized carbon, indicating that the CGM gas surrounding the galaxy has actually been enhanced in elements much heavier than helium. Kinematic modeling of the observations suggests that streams of the enriched gas are spiraling towards the massive galaxy.
