A giant galaxy in the young Universe with a massive ring

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  • 8716714

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  • Tiantian Yuan
  • Ahmed Elagali
  • Ivo Labbe
  • Glenn G. Kacprzak
  • Claudia del P. Lagos
  • Leo Y. Alcorn
  • Jonathan H. Cohn
  • Kim-Vy H. Tran
  • Karl Glazebrook
  • Brent A. Groves
  • Kenneth C. Freeman
  • Lee R. Spitler
  • Caroline M. S. Straatman
  • Deanne B. Fisher
  • Sarah M. Sweet

In the local (redshift z approximate to 0) Universe, collisional ring galaxies make up only similar to 0.01% of galaxies(1) and are formed by head-on galactic collisions that trigger radially propagating density waves(2-4). These striking systems provide key snapshots for dissecting galactic disks and are studied extensively in the local Universe(5-9). However, not much is known about distant (z > 0.1) collisional rings(10-14). Here we present a detailed study of a ring galaxy at a look-back time of 10.8 Gyr (z = 2.19). Compared with our Milky Way, this galaxy has a similar stellar mass, but has a stellar half-light radius that is 1.5-2.2 times larger and is forming stars 50 times faster. The extended, diffuse stellar light outside the star-forming ring, combined with a radial velocity on the ring and an intruder galaxy nearby, provides evidence for this galaxy hosting a collisional ring. If the ring is secularly evolved(15,16), the implied large bar in a giant disk would be inconsistent with the current understanding of the earliest formation of barred spirals(17-21). Contrary to previous predictions(10-12), this work suggests that massive collisional rings were as rare 11 Gyr ago as they are today. Our discovery offers a unique pathway for studying density waves in young galaxies, as well as constraining the cosmic evolution of spiral disks and galaxy groups.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftNature Astronomy
Vol/bind4
Udgave nummer10
Sider (fra-til)957-964
Antal sider8
ISSN2397-3366
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 okt. 2020

ID: 258028434