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EI2GYB > ASTRO 18.11.25 15:19l 96 Lines 5164 Bytes #55 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Astronomers reveal flat 'Diamond Ring' in Cygnus X is a bur
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Astronomers reveal flat 'Diamond Ring' in Cygnus X is a burst bubble remnant
An international team led by researchers from the University of Cologne has
solved the mystery of an extraordinary phenomenon known as the "Diamond Ring"
in the star-forming region Cygnus X, a huge, ring-shaped structure made of gas
and dust that resembles a glowing diamond ring. In similar structures, the
formations are not flat but spherical in shape. How this special shape came
about was previously unknown.
The results have been published under the title "The Diamond Ring in Cygnus X:
an advanced stage of an expanding bubble of ionized carbon" in the journal
Astronomy & Astrophysics.
How the diamond ring structure formed
The ring has a diameter of around 20 light years and shines strongly in
infrared light. It is the relic of a former cosmic bubble that was once formed
by the radiation and winds of a massive star. In contrast to other similar
objects, the "Diamond Ring" does not have a rapidly expanding spherical shell,
but only a slowly expanding ring.
"For the first time, we observed the final stage of such a gas bubble in a
distinctly flat cloud structure," explains Simon Dannhauer from the University
of Cologne's Institute for Astrophysics, who led the study. "The bubble has
'burst,' because gases were able to escape into the thinner areas around it.
All that remained was the particular flat shape."
Computer simulations show that the bubble initially expanded in all directions
and later escaped perpendicular to the cloud. What remained was the structure
of the "Diamond Ring" that is visible today. This cosmic formation is estimated
to be around 400,000 years old-very young compared to the lifespan of massive
stars. Sebastian Vider from the University of Cologne carried out these
computer simulations on the new "RAMSES" supercomputer.
The role of massive stars and SOFIA
The bubble consisting of ionized carbon was once inflated by a hot star with a
mass approximately 16 times that of our sun. This star heats up the gas and
dust until it glows. Observations like this are technically very demanding and
were only possible with the help of the flying observatory SOFIA (Stratospheric
Observatory for Infrared Astronomy).
With SOFIA, a modified Boeing aircraft that flies at an altitude of 13
kilometers or more, researchers can observe a wavelength range of light that is
not accessible from Earth. In doing so, the researchers were able to precisely
measure the movement of the gas: The ring expands at around 1.3 kilometers per
second-this corresponds to around 4,700 km/h and is actually quite slow
compared to similar bubbles.
What the discovery reveals about star formation
The discovery provides valuable insights into how the radiation and winds of
young stars shape their environment and therefore also influence the formation
of new stars.
"The 'Diamond Ring' is a prime example of how enormous the influence of
individual stars can be on entire cloud complexes," says Dr. Nicola Schneider,
co-author of the study.
"Such processes are crucial for understanding the formation of stars in our
Milky Way," continues Dr. Robert Simon.
Yet there's still one small disappointment for the romantics. The study also
shows that what looks like a "Diamond Ring" from Earth actually consists of two
individual objects. It seems as if the "Diamond," a cluster of young stars, is
merely part of the ring. In fact, it is located a few hundred light years in
front of it.
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