The team discovered that star formation in these galaxies occurs when the momentum of hot gas drops below a critical threshold. The hot gas is bound to cool below that threshold and form new stars. Thus, this threshold value indicates whether stars have formed or not.
“It is impressive to think that a single number tells us whether billions of stars and planets formed in these massive galaxies, ten billion years ago,” the researchers say.
Previous results suggest that factors other than cooling of hot gas could play a larger role in star formation.
Ten billion years ago, during a period astronomers call “cosmic noon,” galaxy collisions and merging into clusters became more common. Stars also form faster, and black holes in the galaxy attract matter much faster.
However, the star formation now studied appears remarkably similar to that which occurred at cosmic noon. “Although the universe looked very different at the time, the basis of star formation, the critical threshold, has always remained the same in these galaxies.”
More Stories
Which can cause an increase in nitrogen.
The Central State Real Estate Agency has no additional space to accommodate Ukrainians.
The oystercatcher, the “unlucky national bird,” is increasingly breeding on rooftops.