Turbulent times for star formation in Stephan's Quintet
Star formation in galaxies is closely linked to molecular gas. In the distant past, when galaxy interactions were more common, these encounters compressed molecular gas, causing dense clouds to collapse under their own gravity and form new stars.
Turbulent gas motions within Stephan's Quintet, a group of interacting galaxies, are significantly impacting star formation processes. Despite prevalent molecular gas, some regions exhibit unexpectedly low star formation rates. Scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University used the Atacama Compact Array to create a detailed map of molecular gas throughout the quintet.
Their research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, revealed that regions with more turbulent gas motions tend to form stars far less efficiently, even when abundant gas is present. Galaxy interactions compress and disperse molecular gas, resulting in varied star formation activities. The turbulence generated by these interactions hinders gas concentration and collapse, preventing star formation.
Associate Professor Kazuyuki Muraoka emphasized that understanding galaxy collisions and interactions throughout cosmic time will enhance our comprehension of galaxy evolution.
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