Monsters from the field in space

The Hubble Space Telescope has solved a puzzling problem about giant fibers but is thinly formed by a strong urn around NGC 1275. The researchers say this is the most striking example. about the effects of large tentacles of galactic magnetic fields.

NGC 1275 is one of the nearest giant elliptical galaxies and is located in the center of the Perseus Galaxy Cluster. It is an active galaxy, containing a supermassive black hole in the center, creating bubbles carrying radio waves that release materials into the surrounding gas. Its most spectacular feature is the sparkling air that extends beyond the galaxy to the gas that releases X ears millions of degrees.

These fibers are the only visible light source of the complex relationship between the central black hole and the surrounding gas. They provide an important clue about the impact of the giant black hole on its surroundings.

A group of astronomers using the NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope has for the first time analyzed each small gas fiber that constitutes a giant gas fiber. The amount of gas contained in a small gas is a million times greater than the Sun. They are only 200 light-years wide, often surprisingly straight, and extend to 2000 light-years . The filament is formed when the cold gas in the center of the galaxy rises when the bubbles are blown out by the black hole.

This is a challenge for astronomers to learn about how the thin structure of gas fibers withstands the harsh high-energy climate of the galaxy for over 100 million years. They should have heated up, dispersed, and evaporated for a very short time, or fell due to their own gravity to form stars. The most puzzling thing is that they are not dispersed by the force at the center of the galaxy,

The giant galaxy NGC 1275, also known as Perseus A, is located at the center of the galaxy cluster Perseus.By combining multiple wavelength images together, the kinetic energy of the galaxy can be observed.Details and structures from optical wavelengths, radios and X-rays have been combined to create a panoramic image that shows the intense event occurring in the center of the galaxy.(Photo: NASA, ESA, NRAO and L. Frattare (STScl). X-ray: NASA / CXC / IoA / A.Fabian et al .; Radio: NRAO / VLA / G. Taylor; Optical: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage (STScl / Aura) - ESA / Hubble, and A. Fabian (Astronomical Academy, University of Cambridge, UK)).

The new study, directed by Andy Fabian of the University of Cambridge, published in Nature on August 21, 2008, assumes that the magnetic field keeps the contaminated gas at its place and counteracts possible forces. breaking air fibers. This structure has supported this long special gas thread for over 100 years. Fabian said: 'We can see that the magnetic field has a decisive meaning for these complex strands - both for their survival and integrity'. Hubble's new data simultaneously determines the strength of the magnetic field in the air fibers from their size. The thinner fibers are more fragile and need stronger magnetic fields. However, the smaller the thread, the harder it is to observe.

This fiber system in NGC 1275 provides the most striking example of the operation of extracellular magnetic fields and is a spectacular product of the complex interaction between gas masses and supermassive black holes in the middle. galaxy center. Similar filamentous networks can be discovered in many other distant galaxies. They cannot be observed as detailed as NGC 1275, so the team will apply the existing knowledge to conduct observations of more distant galaxies.

Refer:

Fabian et al.Magnetic support of the optical emission line filaments in NGC 1275. Nature, 2008;454 (7207): 968 DOI: 10.1038 / nature07169