This is the “South Pillar” region of the star-forming region called the Carina Nebula. Like cracking open a watermelon and finding its seeds, the infrared telescope “busted open” this murky cloud to reveal star embryos tucked inside finger-like pillars of thick dust. Credit: NASA
A type of gas found in the voids between galaxies – atomic gas – appears to be part of the star formation process under certain conditions. The findings overturn a long-standing theory about the conditions needed for star formation to take place – a process that happens when dense clouds of dust and gas inside galaxies collapse.
It was previously thought that stars could form only in the presence of a different type of gas – called molecular gas. Atomic gas is composed of individual H atoms. It is usually found in regions of space that do not contain any planets or stars and are largely empty. Molecular gas is made of H2, and is present in the densest parts of galaxies, where most planets and stars form.
The new study, led by the University of Edinburgh, provides the first evidence that atomic gas can fuel star formation. This happens when atomic gas flows into galaxies but does not have time to convert to the molecular form. The discovery was made by studying galaxies in which explosions of massive stars – gamma-ray bursts – have been observed. Recent studies have shown these galaxies to be almost entirely deficient in molecular gas.
Using a radio telescope in NSW, Australia, researchers measured the levels of atomic gas present in the galaxies. The team found they contain large amounts of atomic gas, distributed close to gamma-ray bursts, suggesting it can act as the fuel for star formation.
Stars form in the same way regardless of the type of gas involved. Gas molecules are destroyed early in the process, so the stars they produce are the same.
http://phys.org/news/2015-11-close-up-view-galaxies-prompts-re-think.htmljCp
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