Cosmic Collision: Quasar’s Impact on Galaxy Formation
CITY – May 9, 2024 – Astronomers have observed the dramatic impact of a quasar on a distant galaxy, offering unprecedented insights into cosmic evolution. Two galaxies are colliding at immense speeds,with one harboring a quasar that unleashes powerful radiation. The study, published in Nature, details how this high-energy radiation disrupts the targeted galaxy’s ability to form new stars, transforming its structure. This groundbreaking finding, facilitated by advanced telescopes allows for a deeper understanding of galactic interactions. This story offers exciting possibilities for future cosmic study.
Cosmic Collision: Quasar’s Devastating Impact on Galaxy Formation
In the vast expanse of the universe, a cosmic drama is unfolding. Two galaxies, hurtling towards each other at speeds exceeding 500 kilometers per second, are locked in a titanic battle.This isn’t a simple merger; it’s a cycle of collision and repulsion, a dance of destruction and potential rebirth. But one galaxy wields a powerful, unfair advantage: a quasar.
Did you know? Quasars are among the brightest objects in the universe, powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. Their intense radiation can travel billions of light-years.
A recent study published in Nature describes this galactic encounter as “the Cosmic Fair,” according to astrophysicist Pasquier Noterdaeme of the Institute of Astrophysics of Paris and the Franco-Chilean laboratory of Astronomy.
The Quasar’s Unfair Advantage
As the galaxies engage in their violent dance, the quasar, residing within one of them, unleashes a beam of intense radiation upon its partner. This radiation spear is so potent that it disrupts the internal structure of the targeted galaxy,substantially slowing its ability to form new stars.
pro Tip: The process of star formation is crucial for a galaxy’s evolution. By halting this process, the quasar effectively sterilizes the affected galaxy.
the observation, made possible by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Atacama large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, provides a unique glimpse into the early universe. The light from this cosmic battle has traveled over eleven billion years, originating from a time when the universe was only 18% of its current age.
Witnessing the Impact
What makes this observation truly groundbreaking is the tangible effect of the quasar’s radiation. For the first time, scientists have directly observed how a quasar’s radiation interferes wiht the gas clouds of a seemingly ordinary galaxy.
According to Sergei balashev, co-author of the study and researcher at the Ioffe Institute in St.Petersburg, Only the densest and small nuclei remain, probably unable to generate new stars.
This process transforms the affected galaxy into a sterile surroundings, devoid of the nurseries where stars are born.
However,the aggressor galaxy is also transformed in this process.As Balashev suggests, these encounters channel vast amounts of gas towards the galactic center, further fueling the black hole and enhancing its destructive capabilities.
feedback becomes a spiral of destruction and rebirth: A galaxy runs out while the other enhances its nucleus until it becomes more lethal.
Sergei Balashev, Ioffe Institute
Technological Breakthroughs
This research was made possible by the synergy between ALMA, which clearly distinguished the two galaxies, and the VLT’s X-Shooter instrument, which analyzed how the quasar’s brightness traverses the victim galaxy. This approach provided scientists with a precise “radiography” of the damage caused by the radiation.
As astronomical technology continues to advance, a new era of cosmic exploration is dawning. The future Extremely Large telescope (ELT) of the European southern Observatory (ESO) promises to unravel even more mysteries about how quasars and galactic mergers shape the destinies of their hosts and neighboring galaxies.
