A group of international scientists, with leadership from an astrophysicist at the University of British Columbia, has uncovered a young galaxy cluster emitting hot gas at a rate five times higher than previously believed possible. This finding has sparked enthusiasm among astrophysicists, suggesting a potential shift in our understanding of the universe’s early development post-Big Bang.
The research, published in the Nature journal, involved a collaboration of over two dozen researchers worldwide focusing on the galaxy cluster SPT2349-56, located approximately 12 billion light years away. Led by UBC PhD candidate Dazhi Zhou, the team observed a significant amount of hot gas existing in the space between galaxies.
Zhou highlighted that this detection of hot gas at such an early cosmic stage is groundbreaking. The galaxy cluster in question, SPT2349-56, formed only 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang, challenging previous notions about the rapid heating of galaxy clusters.
James Di Francesco, director of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory near Victoria, noted that conventional theories did not anticipate such swift heating of galaxy clusters. Typically, the gas surrounding galaxies is expected to heat up gradually over time as galaxies move in orbits and release energy into their surroundings. The unexpected elevation of gas temperature in the young cluster presents a new perspective on cluster evolution, deviating from prior assumptions.
Researchers discovered the abundance of hot gas in the SPT2349-56 cluster, typically thought to manifest billions of years after its formation. Utilizing telescopes in Chile, scientists delved into dark clouds, deepened their understanding of star formation, and explored the universe’s earliest epochs.
Zhou explained that radio telescopes operating in submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths enabled precise observations of the gas’s temperature, despite its immense distance from Earth. This advanced technology provided crucial insights into the universe’s early stages, shedding light on the evolution of massive galaxy clusters.
A galaxy cluster comprises a collection of galaxies, with clusters and superclusters potentially housing hundreds to thousands of galaxies. For instance, our Milky Way is part of the Virgo supercluster, potentially hosting over 2,000 galaxies. Zhou emphasized that this new research is pivotal in deciphering the formation mechanisms of contemporary large galaxy clusters.
