A group of international scientists, led by an astrophysicist from the University of British Columbia, has identified a youthful galaxy cluster emitting hot gas at a rate five times higher than previously believed possible. This discovery has sparked enthusiasm among astrophysicists, suggesting a potential shift in the understanding of the early universe post-Big Bang.
Published in the prestigious Nature journal, the study involved more than two dozen researchers worldwide and focused on the galaxy cluster SPT2349-56, located approximately 12 billion light years away. UBC PhD candidate Dazhi Zhou, heading the research team, observed a substantial amount of hot gas present in the intergalactic space.
Zhou highlighted that this detection of intensely hot gas at an early cosmic stage is groundbreaking, given the cluster’s young age, forming merely 1.4 billion years post-Big Bang. James Di Francesco, the director of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory near Victoria, noted that conventional theories did not anticipate such rapid heating of galaxy clusters.
The phenomenon challenges expectations as the gas between galaxies is typically projected to heat up gradually over time due to energy injection from orbiting galaxies. This unexpected heating in the young cluster signifies a new perspective on cluster evolution, diverging from previous assumptions.
The researchers’ findings, unveiling the presence of hot gas earlier than anticipated in the SPT2349-56 cluster’s timeline, were made possible through observations utilizing telescopes in Chile. These telescopes facilitated a detailed examination of dark clouds, star formation, and the universe’s earliest epochs.
Zhou emphasized the significance of using radio telescopes to analyze the gas’s temperature accurately despite its vast distance from Earth. This cutting-edge research is crucial for comprehending modern-day massive galaxy clusters and their formation processes.