Astronomers have captured a new snapshot of the ancient spiral galaxy BRI 1335-0417. This study provides valuable insights into the formation of early galaxies and sheds light on the origins of our Milky Way.
Dating back more than 12 billion years, BRI 1335-0417 is the oldest and most distant known spiral galaxy in our universe.
According to Dr. Takafumi Tsukui, the lead author of the study, a state-of-the-art telescope called ALMA has allowed experts to look at this ancient galaxy in more detail.
Specifically, we are interested in how gas enters the entire galaxy," Dr. Tsukui said. "Gas is a key ingredient in the formation of stars and can give us important clues about how galaxies actually drive their star formation.
This study stands out for its unique discovery on the galactic disk. The team captured gas movement around BRI 1335-0417.
They also discovered the formation of ** waves, a phenomenon that had never been observed in galaxies of such early age.
Dr. Tsukui likened the motion of the disk of a spiral galaxy to a ripple spreading on a pond, suggesting that the vertical oscillation of the disk may be due to external factors, such as the inflow of new gas into the galaxy or interaction with smaller galaxies.
These external influences provide fresh fuel for star formation to bombard the Milky Way, a key factor in understanding the evolution of galaxies.
In addition, our study revealed the strip-like structure in the disc. The Milky Way Rod can destroy gas and transport it to the center of the Milky Way. The bar found in BRI 1335-0417 is the most distant such structure known," Dr. Tsukui said. "Taken together, these results show the dynamic growth of a young galaxy.
The researchers note that the images seen through the ALMA telescope today are a throwback to the early days of the Milky Way – when the universe was only 10% of its current age.
The study's co-author, Professor Emily Wisniski, points out the unique properties of early galaxies such as BRI 1335-0417.
It has been found that early galaxies are forming much faster than modern galaxies. This is the case with BRI 1335-0417, which, despite its mass similar to that of our Milky Way, forms stars hundreds of times faster," said Professor Wisnioneski. "We wanted to understand how the gas is to keep up with this rapid rate of star formation.
Spiral structures were rare in the early universe, and exactly how they were formed is still unknown. This study also gives us important information about the most likely scenarios.
While it is not possible to observe the evolution of the Milky Way directly, as our observations can only give us a snapshot, computer simulations can help piece together the story.
As mentioned above, the Atacama Large Millimeter Submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a revolutionary observatory and one of the largest and most complex terrestrial astronomy projects.
ALMA is located in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, at an altitude of about 5,000 meters (16,500 feet). This high, dry location is ideal for millimeter and submillimeter wavelength observations that would otherwise be absorbed by moisture in the Earth's atmosphere.
ALMA is an international partner involving North America, Europe, East Asia, and Chile, demonstrating global collaboration in the field of astronomy.
The array consists of 66 high-precision antennas that can be placed at a distance of 16 kilometers.
This configuration allows astronomers to achieve resolutions and sensitivities previously unattainable in millimetre-millimeter astronomy.
ALMA aims to study some of the oldest and most distant objects in the universe. It has made a significant contribution to our understanding of star formation, planetary systems, galaxies, and the early universe.
Its high-resolution capabilities also make it ideal for detailed imaging of molecular gases and dust in the universe, which is essential for understanding the formation process of stars and planets.
The study was published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.