Recent computer simulations thrilled scientists. Now, they believe that the Milky Way galaxy is capable of slingshotting stars from its core straight beyond its edges. And it achieves such a feat with puzzling force.
The scientists from the University of California, Irvine, observed that the supernovas found at the center of the Milky Way galaxy could explode, releasing unbelievably powerful jets towards the edges of our galaxy. This phenomenon is known as “supernova feedback.”
These supernovae represent 40 percent of the outer-halo stars, and only 2 percent of the stars within the galaxy is due to supernova bubbles. The jets emitted during the phenomenon turns into stars as they travel. The resulted stars have eccentric orbits, and most of them orbit in our galaxy contrary to the regular ones.
The study is based on computer simulations of the Milky Way Galaxies and those peculiar stars
“These highly accurate numerical simulations have shown us that it’s likely the Milky Way has been launching stars in circumgalactic space in outflows triggered by supernova explosions,” explained James Bullock, the leading author of the study.
The recent research focused on computer simulation of the formation of extragalactic stars. However, the scientists behind the study added that many observational pieces of evidence prove the theory.
Stars higher in metallic elements, just like our Sun, tend to orbit within the Milky Way. Scientists can predict the speed and pattern in which these stars swirl. On the other hand, suns with a lower metal content are unpredictable, evidentiating the force at which the Milky Way galaxy ejects them beyond its boundaries.
“They show us that as the galaxy center is rotating, a bubble driven by supernova feedback is developing with stars forming at its edge. It looks as though the stars are being kicked out from the center,” Sijie Yu explained.
