This unprecedented image reveals a filament of the cosmic web ðŸ”
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After hundreds of hours of observations, researchers obtained a high-definition image of a cosmic filament. This filament, dating back to when the Universe was about 2 billion years old, connects two actively forming galaxies. This observation was made possible by the MUSE instrument installed on the Very Large Telescope in Chile.
The diffuse gas (yellow to purple) contained in the cosmic filament connecting two galaxies, spanning a vast distance of 3 million light-years.
Credit: Davide Tornotti/University of Milan-Bicocca
The cosmic web, composed of dark matter filaments, serves as the framework of the Universe. Galaxies form at the intersections of these filaments, where intergalactic gas fuels star formation. This study, published in Nature Astronomy, marks a major breakthrough in understanding galaxy formation.
The team used computer simulations to compare their observations with theoretical predictions. The results show remarkable agreement between current cosmological models and observed data. This validation strengthens our understanding of gas distribution in the Universe.
Davide Tornotti, a PhD student at the University of Milano-Bicocca, explains that this observation allows for precise characterization of the filament's shape. For the first time, researchers were able to directly measure the boundary between the gas in galaxies and that of the cosmic web.
This discovery opens new perspectives for studying the gaseous environment around galaxies. Fabrizio Arrigoni Battaia, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, emphasizes the importance of continuing these observations to obtain a comprehensive view of gas distribution in the cosmic web.
Researchers plan to collect more data to discover other similar structures. This work could revolutionize our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution by revealing how gas flows through the Universe.
What is the cosmic web?
The cosmic web is a large-scale structure of the Universe, composed of dark matter filaments and gas. These filaments connect galaxies, forming a complex network. The intersections of these filaments host galaxy clusters, where matter density is highest.
Dark matter, invisible but detectable through its gravitational effects, constitutes about 85% of the total matter in the Universe. It plays a crucial role in the formation of the cosmic web by attracting intergalactic gas that fuels star formation.
Recent observations, like those in this study, allow for a better understanding of gas distribution in these filaments. These data are essential for validating cosmological models and understanding how galaxies form and evolve.
By studying the cosmic web, scientists hope to unravel the mysteries of the early Universe and better understand the processes that led to the formation of the structures we observe today.
How are cosmic filaments observed?
Observing cosmic filaments is a major technical challenge. Intergalactic gas is very diffuse and emits extremely faint light. Traditional instruments cannot directly detect this light, making filament observation difficult.
To overcome this problem, astronomers use indirect techniques, such as the absorption of quasar light by intergalactic gas. However, these methods do not provide direct images of the filaments.
The MUSE instrument, installed on the Very Large Telescope, has enabled the capture of a high-definition image of a cosmic filament. Thanks to its advanced spectroscopic capabilities, MUSE was able to detect the faint light emitted by intergalactic gas.
This observation required hundreds of hours of observation time, making it one of the most ambitious campaigns ever conducted with this instrument. The results open new perspectives for the direct study of cosmic filaments.