Chapter 15.3 Galaxy Evolution Elliptical Galaxies Spiral Galaxies Irregular Galaxies Are there any connections between the three types of galaxies? How do galaxies form? How do galaxies evolve? P.S. You can find all the pictures/ movies either on NASA s website, or in the textbook.
How do we observe the life histories of galaxies? Deep observations not only look to great distances, but also look back in time. This means we see distant galaxies as they were when they were much younger. Hubble Ultra Deep Field
How do we observe the life histories of galaxies? Grouping by types allow us to study how a particular type of galaxies evolves in time.
How did galaxies form? Observing first galaxies/ stars require larger telescopes and sensitive to infrared light, because of the extreme redshift.
How did galaxies form? The best models for galaxy formation assume: 1. Matter originally filled all of space when the universe was very young 2. The distribution of matter was not perfectly uniform some slightly denser than the others and this slightly greater pull of gravity wins the expansion. In about 1 billion years, protogalactic clouds formed. 0.5 billion years 0.5-1 billion years
How did galaxies form? Matter is initially almost uniform Dense regions form protogalactic clouds Gravity pulls galaxies together to form galaxy clusters.
How did galaxies form? Protogalactic clouds cooled and the first generation of stars formed.
How did galaxies form? After a few million years, these supernovae seeded the galaxy with first heavy elements and heated the surrounding gas.
How did galaxies form? This heating slowed the collapse and the rest of the gas settled slowly into a rotating disk.
Questions: Where did these slight density enhancements come from? Why are there elliptical galaxies and irregular galaxies?
Why do galaxies differ? Elliptical galaxies have less or no gas, more old stars and look redder. Spiral galaxies have more gas, more young stars and look bluer.
Why do galaxies differ? Initial conditions in the protogalactic clouds are different. 1. Protogalactic spin: Faster rotation (more initial angular momentum): Spiral Galaxies Slower rotation (little/no initial angular momentum): Elliptical Galaxies
Why do galaxies differ? Initial conditions in the protogalactic clouds are different. 2. Protogalactic density: High gas density results in quicker cooling, faster star formation before gas settled into a disk: Elliptical Galaxies Low gas density, less star formation, gas settled into a disk: Spiral Galaxies
Why do galaxies differ? Galaxies don t evolve in perfect isolation! They interact, collide and even merge!
Why do galaxies differ? Stars: HI ~ 2500 miles CA Galaxies: ~ 9 ft Average distances between galaxies are not much larger than their sizes, and collisions between them are inevitable! More often in the past, since the universe was smaller.
Why do galaxies differ? Galaxy collisions! Computer simulations show that two spiral galaxies collide can form an elliptical galaxy in about one billion years! 1. Galaxies approach into orbit around each other due to gravity. 2. Distorted as collision continues, gas collapse towards the center. 3. Gravitational force pulls out long tidal tails and features. 4. Centers of the galaxies merge into an elliptical. Prof. Josh Barnes in IfA, UH www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~barnes
Why do galaxies differ? Galaxy collisions!
Why do galaxies differ? Galaxy collisions!
Why do galaxies differ? Galaxy collisions!
Observational evidences Giant elliptical galaxies grew hugely by eating other galaxies, and become the central dominant galaxies in the center of galaxy clusters. Visible light X-ray
Observational evidences - Groups of young stars forming found in old elliptical galaxies. - Some gas and stars show reverse orbits. - Shells formed when gas stripped out of a galaxy during collision.
Quick Review - In the very early universe, H/ He filled out the space with slightly non-uniform distribution. These matter then condense through gravitational force to form protogalactic clouds in about 1 billion year. - Protogalactic clouds then collapse to form disk galaxies. - The difference of galaxies come from two sources: 1. The initial conditions of the protogalactic clouds are different, either the spin or the density, which results in different type of galaxies. 2. Later interactions or collisions of galaxies can also affect their evolution.
Galaxy collisions ignite huge bursts of rapid star formation!
Starburst Galaxies Most normal galaxies form about 1-4 stars per year (MW: 1 star per year), but these galaxies form >100 stars per year! These galaxies run out of gas in just a few million years. A very temporary phase in a galaxy s life.
Starburst Galaxies Bubbles of hot gas from supernovae blow out bursts through the gas disk and form galactic winds that flow outward. Starburst galaxies represent an important role in helping us understanding the galaxy evolution.
The collisions we observe nearby trigger bursts of star formation.
Modeling such collisions on a computer shows that two spiral galaxies can merge to make an elliptical.
Modeling such collisions on a computer shows that two spiral galaxies can merge to make an elliptical. Note: The stars themselves do not collide, but the galaxiesʼ gas clouds do.
Collisions may explain why elliptical galaxies tend to be found where galaxies are closer together, namely in galaxy clusters.
Giant elliptical galaxies at the centers of clusters seem to have consumed a number of smaller galaxies.
Intensity of supernova explosions in starburst galaxies can drive galactic winds.
X-ray image Intensity of supernova explosions in starburst galaxies can drive galactic winds.
Why do galaxies differ? Angular momentum may determine size of disk Density of protogalactic cloud may determine how fast a galaxy forms Collisions shape galaxies early on Mergers of small objects make halo & bulge Mergers of larger objects make elliptical galaxies Relatively undisturbed galaxies can still have disks
15.4 Quasars and Other Active Galactic Nuclei Learning goals What are quasars? What is the power source for quasars and other active galactic nuclei? Do supermassive black holes really exist?
If the center of a galaxy is unusually bright we call it an active galactic nucleus Active Nucleus in M87 Quasars are the most luminous examples.
The highly redshifted spectra of quasars indicate large distances. (Discovered in the 1960s) From brightness and distance we find that luminosities of some quasars are >10 12 L sun Variability shows that all this energy comes from region smaller than solar system
What is the origin of a quasar? Galaxies around quasars sometimes appear disturbed by collisions.
An active galactic nucleus can shoot out blobs of plasma moving at nearly the speed of light. Speed of ejection suggests that a black hole is present.
Accretion of gas onto a supermassive black hole appears to be the only way to explain all the properties of quasars.
Energy from a Black Hole Gravitational potential energy of matter falling into black hole turns into kinetic energy. Friction in accretion disk turns kinetic energy into thermal energy (heat). Heat produces thermal radiation (photons). This process can convert 10-40% of E = mc 2 into radiation.
Jets are thought to come from twisting of magnetic field in the inner part of accretion disk.
Do supermassive black holes really exist?
Do supermassive black holes really exist? Measuring the orbits of stars at the center of the Milky Way indicate a black hole of mass of ~4 million M Sun
Orbital speed and distance of gas orbiting center of M87 indicate a black hole with mass of 3 billion M Sun
Black Holes in Galaxies Many nearby galaxies (perhaps all of them) have supermassive black holes at their centers. These black holes seem to be dormant active galactic nuclei. All galaxies may have passed through a quasar-like stage earlier in time. [movie]