Understanding how stars and galaxies form and evolve is one of the greatest challenges facing astrophysics. A new study led by Dr. Angela Adamo of Stockholm University provides new insights. Using the James Webb Telescope (JWST), researchers studied the arc of the cosmic galaxy (SPT0615-JD), which emits its light 460 million years after the big bang. Magnified by gravitational lensing, this galaxy revealed five massive young star clusters. “It was an incredible surprise when we opened the images from the James Webb Space Telescope for the first time,” Adamo says.
The Era of Reionization (EoR), during the first billion years after the Big Bang, saw the universe transition from neutral hydrogen gas to ionized matter. It is believed that early galaxies drove this change. To study these galaxies, one must observe distant objects, allowing us to “look back in time.” Gravitational lensing, where a massive celestial body bends light like a magnifying glass, helps observe distant galaxies in detail.
Cosmic Jewel Arc, observed using the James Webb Space Telescope. Image: ESA/Web, NASA and CSA, L. Bradley (STScI), A. Adamo (Stockholm University), Cosmic Spring Collaboration
In a study published in the journal Nature, the research team found star clusters in the Sagittarius Galaxy through gravitational lensing. “This achievement would not have been possible without the unparalleled capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope,” the doctor said. Adelaide Claessens, co-author of the article. JWST's Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) has revealed five massive young star clusters. Three times denser than typical young clusters, these clusters formed within the past 50 million years and account for 60% of the galaxy's total light.
It was incredible to see the JWST images of the Cosmic Gem Arc and realize that we were looking at star clusters in such a young galaxy.
“We observe globular clusters around local galaxies, but we don't know when and where they formed,” Adamo says. “Cosmic gem observations have opened a unique window into the workings of young galaxies and shown us where globular clusters form.” These clusters are expected to develop into spherical clusters over time.
Left: Negative image where different star clusters are marked. Right: The stars are clustered “behind” the gravitational lens. This image is created through computer simulation. Images: ESA/Web, NASA and CSA, L. Bradley (STScI), A. Adamo (Stockholm University), Cosmic Spring Collaboration
The team plans to study more galaxies from EoR to understand the demographics of early star clusters. They also have an approved JWST program to further investigate the Cosmic Jewel Arc and its star clusters. “Spectral observations will allow us to map the rate of star formation and the efficiency of ionizing photon production along the length of the galaxy,” says Dr. Larry Bradley, JWST principal investigator and co-author of this paper.
The article “Bound star clusters observed in a galaxy with a lens of 460 million after the Big Bang” was published in the journal Nature. doctor. Angela Adamo is the lead author with Drs. Adelaide Claesens (Stockholm University) and Erik Zachrisson (Uppsala University) as co-authors.
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Last updated: June 24, 2024
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