A groundbreaking stellar simulation can help you learn more about galaxy formation, the origin of the universe, and our own
The universe continues to harbor mysteries and you’ve certainly wondered how stars are born. Astronomers know that they form in huge clouds of dust and gas called stellar nurseries. A group of researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago, United States, created a very real simulator for us to see what is star formation like from inside a stellar nursery.
Scientists have developed STARFORGE, (Star Formation in Gaseous Environments) from a mathematical model that allows anyone to see it floating around a colorful cloud of gas in three-dimensional space as stars appear in dazzling colors.
How was the universe formed?
From the Royal Astronomical Society they say that this simulator is the pioneer in demonstrating the whole mix of physical phenomena that influence the formation of stars. Simultaneously, it models not only the formation, but also the evolution and dynamics of stars taking into account stellar feedback, jets, radiation, wind and the activity of nearby supernovae.
One of the authors of this study, Michael Grudić, explains that they have been simulating star formation for a few decades, but STARFORGE it’s a quantum leap in technology. Other models were able to simulate only a small part of the cloud where stars form, not the entire cloud at high resolution. Without having an overview, we overlook many factors that could influence the star’s result.
The author believes that what you should do if you want to get a complete picture is simulate everything, as astronomers still don’t know exactly why stars have different masses.
Grudić also thinks that understanding how galaxies form depends on assumptions about star formation. If we can understand their formation, then we can understand the composition of galaxies. And by understanding the formation of galaxies, we can learn more about the composition of the universe. Knowing where we came from and where we are in the universe depends on what we know about the origin of stars.
Thanks to this simulator, the team was able to prove that jets launched by new stars help to regulate the amount of material that just one of them accumulates.
REFERENCES
STARFORGE: Towards a Comprehensive Numerical Model of Star Cluster Formation and Feedback
New insights into star formation in the smallest galaxies
EDGE: from quiescent to gas-rich to low-mass star-forming dwarf galaxies