Galaxy & Turbulence Simulation Composite (IMAGE)
Caption
This composite image combines observations from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope of the Phantom Galaxy (M74) with a high-resolution simulation of galactic turbulence. The simulation from this study — zoomed into a small patch of the galaxy’s interstellar medium — reveals extremely high-resolution chaotic motions of plasma that regulate star formation, structure formation, and the magnetic field across the galactic scales.
An international team of scientists have developed the world’s largest-ever simulations of magnetized turbulence and measured — with unprecedented precision — how turbulent energy moves across a vast range of scales. By simulating galactic-type turbulence in exquisite detail, the researchers found significant departures from the models that have guided astrophysical theory for decades. The findings could reshape how scientists understand the turbulent structure of the Galaxy, the transport of high-energy particles, and even the birth of stars. In practical terms, understanding and properly modeling turbulence and the production of highly energetic particles can shed light on how to safely navigate space, at a time when commercial space flight is growing and attracting the interest of civilians and celebrities alike.
Credit
Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Team; Acknowledgement: J. Schmidt; Simulation: J. Beattie.
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