This theory answers questions raised by previous observations made with several cutting-edge astronomical observatories including the Herschel Space Observatory and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, a powerful radio telescope located in Chile.
New stars form from molecular gas, so the new theory of molecule formation helps explain the formation of new stars in winds, according to the new study.
"This is the first time that the molecule formation process has been simulated in full detail, and in our view, it is a very compelling explanation for the observation that molecules are ubiquitous in supermassive black hole winds, which has been one of the major outstanding problems in the field," said co-author Claude-Andre Faucher-Giguere, who studies galaxy formation and evolution as an assistant professor in Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
Compared to pre-existing molecules, researchers believe that the new molecules formed in the winds are warmer and brighter in infrared radiation.
The new theory will be put to the test when the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launches the James Webb Space Telescope in spring 2019. If the theory is correct, the telescope will be able to map black hole outflows in detail using infrared radiation, researchers say.
【国际英语资讯:Unexpected matter found in hostile black hole winds】相关文章:
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