Astrophysicists solve a puzzle of massive galaxies

A new theoretical model reveals an excess of massive galaxies, in contrast to previously accepted theories

strophysicists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) may have solved the mystery of the first massive galaxies in the universe, according to a new theoretical model published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Revealing a surprising glut of massive galaxies Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in 2021, Israeli scientists discovered an unexpected excess of massive galaxies in the early universe, challenging hitherto accepted theories. According to the proposed model, the special conditions in early galaxies allowed efficient star formation without interference, giving rise to this excess.

The “feedback starburst” process

Israeli astrophysicists present a process called “feedback starburst” (FFB), which naturally explains this mystery.

In early galaxies, before the gas is enriched with heavy elements, the gas is efficiently converted into stars in a short time. This highly efficient star formation process without feedback explains the observed excess of massive galaxies in the early universe.

A momentous advance in the understanding of the universe

This study led by Prof. Avishai Dekel and his team at HU represents an important milestone in our understanding of the formation of massive primordial galaxies.

The predictions of this model will be tested with accumulated observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, and are expected to lead to new discoveries and lines of research.

Summary Israeli astrophysicists have taken a crucial step toward solving the puzzle of massive galaxies, revealing a startling excess in the early universe. His “feedback starburst” proposal provides a natural explanation for this cosmic phenomenon and opens new doors to our understanding of the universe in its earliest stages.

source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.04827#:~:text=Efficient%20Formation%20of%20Massive%20Galaxies%20at%20Cosmic%20Dawn%20by%20Feedback%2DFree%20Starbursts,-Avishai%20Dekel%2C%20Kartick&text=JWST%20observations%20indicate%20a%20surprising,by%20feedback%20at%20later%20times.