The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made significant discoveries regarding the evolution of massive galaxies, revealing that supermassive black holes (SMBHs) play a critical role in halting star formation in these galaxies. Researchers studied a protocluster of galaxies located approximately 11 billion light-years away, discovering that the influence of SMBHs suppresses the gas supply necessary for star formation. This suppression is crucial to understanding the formation of giant elliptical galaxies, which dominate in densely populated areas of the universe.
Led by Associate Professor Rhythm Shimakawa from Waseda University, an international team of researchers utilized JWST’s advanced Near-Infrared Camera to obtain high-resolution maps of hydrogen recombination lines, indicative of star formation activity. Their results demonstrated that massive galaxies with active SMBHs showed no signs of new star formation, supporting the theory that the evolution of these galaxies is intricately linked to SMBH activity.
The study represents a breakthrough in understanding the co-evolution of galaxies and their SMBHs, contributing valuable insights into the lifecycle of celestial structures. This work builds on over a decade of research in the Spiderweb protocluster, marking a significant advancement in astrophysics. The findings were published on December 18, 2024.
