Submission 2023
| Submitted by: | Hamid Hassani |
| Department: | Physics |
| Faculty: | Science |
PhD student Hamid Hassani used the mid-infrared instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to capture a mesmerizing false-color image of spiral galaxy IC5332, located 30 million light years away.
Hassani’s use of the JWST allowed him to analyze the infrared light emitted from dust grains at different wavelengths to create the image. Blue, green, orange, and red represent wavelengths of 7, 10, 11.3, and 21 micrometers, respectively. This technique allowed them to categorize the features of the galaxy based on whether they showcased stars, massive star-forming complexes, or background galaxies. Hassani discovered that the stars in IC5332 are very young, erupting onto the scene much faster than previous models had predicted. This process is essential for the long-term life of a galaxy, as it prevents the galaxy from burning through its fuel too quickly. Remarkably, some infrared bands used to create the image trace aromatic molecules in the interstellar medium, also used in perfumes on Earth.
Hassani’s research on IC5332 was part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby Galaxies collaboration. Their work was published in a special focus issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters on Feb 2023. Hassani’s contributions shed new light on our understanding of the formation and evolution of spiral galaxies.