Of the many mysteries in astronomy , one of the most exciting is the long - sought observation of Population III sensation . These were the first ace that shone in the existence , but we are yet to have observational grounds for their world .
Although not an reflexion , astronomers may have now set up some compelling collateral evidence of these stars . They detected a cloud of petrol with only a small amount of heavy elements like carbon copy and O , and it was observed as it was only 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang .
“ operose component were n’t manufactured during the Big Bang , they were made later by star , ” conduct investigator Neil Crighton , from Australia ’s Swinburne University of Technology ’s Center for Astrophysics and Supercomputing , said in astatement . “ The first stars were made from completely pristine accelerator , and we think they form quite differently from hotshot today . ”
Hydrogen and Helium ( with a small amount of Li ) formed in theprimordial nucleosynthesis , but every other constituent ( call metal in astronomy ) was formed through nuclear nuclear fusion reaction . From the atomic number 20 in our bone to the oxygen we suspire , most of the element we see in the lifelike public were forge in the heart of ancient champion . Every propagation of stars enriches the universe with great element .
Population III starswere not only alloy - free but they were also immense : Each star was between 10 to 100 solar the great unwashed , with other field of study suggesting star 1,000 and even 10,000 times heavier than our Sun . These stars would raise prominent supernovae , which would spread metals throughout the cosmos .
“ This is the first swarm to show the tiny intemperate element fraction await for a cloud enrich by the first stars , ” said Professor John O’Meara , who is presenting the results at theAmerican Astronomical Society meetingin Florida today .
The evidence is valid but far from overwhelming . “ We can valuate the ratio of two element in this cloud – carbon and silicon . But the time value of that ratio does n’t conclusively show that it was enrich by the first stars ; former enrichment by old generation of stars is also potential , ” added O’Meara . “ By finding new clouds where we can detect more component , we will be able-bodied to test for the unique pattern of teemingness we expect for enrichment by the first star . ”
The case of the unobserved Population III sensation is still unresolved , but we are catch closer to a solution every day . Next - generation telescopes should be able-bodied to directly observe them , though . In fact , the detection of Population III ace is a goal of NASA’sJames Webb Space Telescope , which will found in 2018 .
