New computer simulations suggest that the largest structure of the universe—a huge width galaxy spread over millions of light years—could have a naive line of sight throughout the universe, a decades-long assumption of astronomical assumption.
A pioneering study published in astronomy and astrophysics uses sophisticated computer modeling to study how radio galaxies grow to such huge sizes, with a distance of up to 7 megapas, equaling about 23 million light-years.
“The emergence of unique mega-stages in all five simulation scenarios suggests that GRG may be more common than previously thought,” the researchers wrote in the paper. “This prediction can be verified by modern and upcoming radio telescopes.”
The giant radio galaxy (GRGS) is a rare subset of active galaxies with huge plasma nozzles that go far beyond the host galaxy. These jets are powered by supermass black holes in the center of the galaxy and can be hundreds of times larger than the diameter of the Milky Way.
Despite decades of observation, astronomers are still struggling to explain why certain radio galaxies have grown to such huge sizes, while most people are still relatively compact. Previous theories suggest that these giants may be formed by propagating in sparse cosmic environments or by performing excellent activities on their black hole engines.
Simulation Giant
An international research team led by Gourab Giri of the University of Pretoria uses computer simulations of magnetic loss dynamics in the theory of relativity to test these formation theories. They created five different scenarios that changed both the power of the jet and the configuration of the surrounding environment.
What they found was surprising: under the appropriate conditions, huge radio galaxies formed in all five conditions – even if the jets propagate through a denser environment or have lower power than usually expected.
“We observed the emergence of unique cocoon morphology of GRG in different jet ambient environments, indicating the key role of these two physical aspects,” the researchers noted in their findings.
One amazing discovery is that jets can grow rapidly when traveling along the edge of galaxy groups or clusters. In these simulations, jets reached the Megaparsec scale in just 49 million years, a timeline comparable to smaller radio galaxies.
This may explain why, although obviously rare, it is occasionally found that the huge GRG stretches over 3 MPa. This simulation also helps explain why the GRG associated with the powerful Fanaroff-Riley II (FR II) Jets is more common than the lower fr fr IS of Level II.
Phase change
The study also reveals evidence that it may be a physical transition that occurs as radio galaxies grow beyond a certain size.
When analyzing how leaf expansion speed and pressure change over time, the researchers found that once the length of the jet reached about 350,250,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,00
“These insights suggest that on specific length scales, GRGs may transition from smaller evolutionary stages to mega-phase,” the study said. “This could help determine whether the leaf evolutionary performance of GRGs differs compared to smaller radio galaxies.”
Such transition points could explain why huge wide-ray galaxies exhibit different characteristics from smaller peers, which may represent basic physical changes, not just size differences.
Light up the dark environment
These findings are of great significance to our understanding of the structure of the universe. Radio galaxies interact with the intersowing medium they propagate and shape their jet medium, and their jets can transport energy at a distance.
This means that GRG can serve as an important probe for the elusive thermal interlayer medium – diffuse gases contain most common matter in the universe, but are still difficult to observe directly.
“In wealthy groups, clusters and even superclusters, the existence of GRGs seems to be more common than previously assumed,” the researchers noted.
The team’s model predicts that the average magnetic field intensity of all giant radio galaxies in their lobes is maintained at an average magnetic field intensity of about 0.15, regardless of the formation history, which can be tested in observation.
Future observation
With new radio telescopes such as South Africa Meerkat, Low Frequency Array (Lofar) and the upcoming Square Kilometer Array (SKA), providing unprecedented sensitivity, astronomers hope to discover more and more massive radio trajectory galaxies in the coming years.
The researchers believe that some previously thought rare formations, such as X-shaped radio galaxies with vertical secondary lobes, may actually be more common, but have not been found due to limitations of previous observation equipment.
“The formation of off-axis lobes in GRGS is similar to that of wings, which is a unique feature that arises due to the influence of the triaxial dynamics of large-scale media,” they wrote. “Detection of these passively developed lobes through today and upcoming sensitive radio telescopes has the potential to elucidate whether the winged sources constitute a small subset of radio winds.”
At the end of the study, a broader parametric study was called for further testing of these models, including GRGs in cosmic voids and supergroups, including GRGs.
As our ability to observe increases, these huge cosmic structures may prove not to be the rarity of the universe, but a common feature of our universe, and these giants have been waiting for the right tools to reveal their popularity throughout the universe.
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