2026ApJ...999..119M


Query : 2026ApJ...999..119M

2026ApJ...999..119M - Astrophys. J., 999, 119 (2026/March-1)

Cloud-Cloud Collisions Induce Filament-mediated Super Star Cluster Formation in the Antennae Overlap Region: Evidence from ALMA and JWST.

MICHIYAMA T., SAITO T., NAKANISHI K., IONO D., TOKUDA K., TSUGE K., NAGASHIMA Y. and KOMUGI S.

Abstract (from CDS):

The formation of super star clusters (SSCs) in galaxies remains a fundamental yet unresolved problem. Among the proposed mechanisms, cloud-cloud collisions (CCCs) have been suggested as a potential trigger, although observational validation has been limited. Here we present high-resolution ($0\mathop{.}\limits^{^{\prime\prime} }12$, ∼14 pc) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of CO (J = 1-0) emission toward a super giant molecular cloud (SGMC) in the overlap region of the Antennae galaxies. The data resolve the SGMC into two distinct velocity components separated by ∼50 km s–1. One component exhibits a “U”-shaped structure within a large filament likely shaped by ram pressure, while the other shows hub-filament morphology. Such a morphology is naturally interpreted as a CCC scenario. The 108 GHz continuum emission detected at the apparent collision interface is dominated by free-free radiation, with an ionizing photon rate consistent with the stellar mass and age of the optically identified SSCs. Supplementary infrared imaging with JWST reveals emission spatially coincident with the inferred collision interface, further supporting the CCC scenario. These results provide compelling, multiwavelength evidence that CCCs play a key role in triggering SSC formation in merging galaxies.

Abstract Copyright: © 2026. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.

Journal keyword(s): Galaxy interactions - Star forming regions - Young star clusters - Millimeter astronomy - Molecular clouds - Extragalactic astronomy - Interstellar clouds - Galaxy collisions - Galaxy mergers - Starburst galaxies

Simbad objects: 16

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Number of rows : 16
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA
ICRS (J2000)
DEC
Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2026
#notes
1 NAME LMC G 05 23 34.6 -69 45 22     0.4     ~ 19090 0
2 NGC 3256 Sy2 10 27 51.284 -43 54 13.55   11.83 11.33 10.62 11.9 ~ 920 2
3 NAME Great Attractor SCG 10 32 -46.0           ~ 617 0
4 NAME Antennae IG 12 01 53.170 -18 52 37.92           ~ 1749 0
5 [WBC2014] 180.47807-18.88143 MoC 12 01 54.74 -18 52 53.1           ~ 5 0
6 [BCE2005] 157 Cl* 12 01 54.89 -18 53 04.9     23.5     ~ 23 0
7 [WBC2014] 180.48062-18.88025 MoC 12 01 55.35 -18 52 48.9           ~ 2 0
8 [WCS2010] 19330 Cl* 12 01 55.4291 -18 52 50.871           ~ 3 0
9 [WCS2010] 19275 Cl* 12 01 55.4319 -18 52 51.151           ~ 1 0
10 [WCS2010] 19459 Cl* 12 01 55.4798 -18 52 50.412           ~ 2 0
11 [WCS2010] 19416 Cl* 12 01 55.4844 -18 52 50.547           ~ 2 0
12 RFD C PoG 12 01 55.5 -18 52 48           ~ 35 0
13 NAME Virgo Cluster ClG 12 30 47.8 +12 23 07           ~ 7107 0
14 NAME Shapley Supercluster SCG 13 06.0 -33 04           ~ 677 0
15 SH 2-3 HII 17 12.4 -38 28           ~ 234 1
16 M 20 OpC 18 02 42 -22 58.3           ~ 456 1

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