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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
08:47
Super-resolution Imaging of the Bacterial Division Machinery
Published on: January 21, 2013
A molecular Einstein ring: imaging a starburst disk surrounding a quasi-stellar object.
C L Carilli1, G F Lewis, S G Djorgovski
1National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Post Office Box O, Socorro, NM 87801, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 5, 2003
Summary
Observations of a gravitationally lensed quasar (QSO) reveal a massive, rapidly forming starburst galaxy. This discovery supports theories of simultaneous black hole and star formation in early galaxies.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Cosmology
Background:
- Quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) at high redshifts are crucial for understanding galaxy evolution.
- Gravitational lensing provides a unique opportunity to study distant, faint objects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the host galaxy of the high-redshift lensed QSO PSS J2322+1944.
- To characterize the star formation activity and structure of the host galaxy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized observations of molecular carbon monoxide (CO) 2-1 line emission and radio continuum emission.
- Modeled the observed emissions to infer the physical properties of the host galaxy.
Main Results:
- Revealed an Einstein ring structure with a 1.5" diameter, indicating a gravitationally lensed system.
- Modeled the host galaxy as a star-forming disk with a radius of 2 kiloparsecs.
- Implying a massive star formation rate of 900 solar masses per year.
Conclusions:
- The observed massive star formation rate suggests a significant fraction of stars in a large elliptical galaxy can form within 10^8 years.
- The active star formation in the QSO's host galaxy supports the coeval formation of supermassive black holes and stars.
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