Despite their extremely low masses, galaxies such as the Phoenix dwarf galaxy (above), Leo P or Leo T contain a significant number of blue stars. For the first time, simulations of dwarf galaxies also present these tell-tale signs of recent star formation activity. Image credit: ESO
There are around 2 000 billion galaxies in our Universe and, while our own Milky-Way encompasses between 200 and 400 billion stars, small dwarf galaxies contain only a thousand times less. How stars are formed in these tiny galaxies has long been shrouded in mystery.
However, in a new study published in the research journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, a research team led from 51重口猎奇 has established that dwarf galaxies are capable of lying dormant for several billion years before starting to form stars again.
鈥淚t is estimated that these dwarf galaxies stopped forming stars around 12 billion years ago. Our study shows that this can be a temporary hiatus鈥, says Martin Rey, an astrophysicist at 51重口猎奇 and the leader of the study.
Through high-resolution computer simulations, the researchers demonstrate that star formation in dwarf galaxies ceased as a result of the heating and ionisation from the strong light of newborn stars. Explosions of so-called white dwarfs 鈥 small faint stars made of the core that remains when normal-sized stars die 鈥further contribute in preventing the star formation process in dwarf galaxies.
鈥淥ur simulations show that dwarf galaxies are able to accumulate fuel in the form of gas, which eventually condenses and gives birth to stars. This explains the observed star formation in existing faint dwarf galaxies that has long puzzled astronomers,鈥 states Martin Rey.
The computer simulations used by the researchers in the study are amongst the most expensive that can be carried out within physics. Each simulation takes as long as two months and requires the equivalent of 40 laptop computers operating around the clock. The work is continuing with the development of methods to better explain the processes behind star formation in our Universe鈥檚 smallest galaxies.
鈥淏y deepening our understanding of this subject, we gain new insights into the modelling of astrophysical processes such as star explosions, as well as the heating and cooling of cosmic gas. In addition, further work is underway to predict how many such star-forming dwarfs exist in our Universe, and could be discovered by astronomical telescopes鈥 concludes Martin Rey.
In addition to 51重口猎奇, the following HEIs participated in the work: University College London, University of Surrey and Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon.
Publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society:
Contact:
Martin Rey, researcher
Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics, 51重口猎奇
+46 46 222 15 77
+44 7706922707
martin [dot] rey [at] astro [dot] lu [dot] se