A recent study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society has shed light on the formation timeline of galaxy disks using images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Researchers analyzed 111 images of distant edge-on galaxies and found that thick disk-only galaxies dominated the early universe, while galaxies with both thin and thick disks became more common in later epochs.
The study reveals a consistent pattern: galaxies first formed their thick disks around 10 billion years ago, followed by the development of thinner disks within them. The research team, led by Takafumi Tsukui, discovered that larger galaxies began forming their thin disks around 8 billion years ago, aligning with the Milky Way’s formation timeline.
The JWST images provided valuable insights into galaxy disk formation, helping to address one of astronomy’s most pressing questions: whether a galaxy’s origin was typical or unique. The study suggests that galaxies similar to our own Milky Way began forming their thin disks around 8 billion years ago, offering a new perspective on the early universe.
The research team used data from various sources, including ALMA and ground-based surveys, to better understand the transition from thick to thin disk formation. They propose a logical model: in the early cosmos, galaxy disks were rich in gas and chaotic; intense star production created thick stellar disks; as disks settled, smaller disks developed inside pre-existing thick disks.
The study’s findings will help bridge the gap between close and distant galaxies, providing new insights into disk formation and shedding light on the origins of our own Milky Way.
Source: https://www.azoquantum.com/News.aspx?newsID=10848