ALMA Detects Molecular Gas Outflows from Quasar, Suppressing Star Formation

The discovery provides the first strong evidence of the role of quasars in controlling star formation in the early universe.

Scientists have discovered strong evidence of intense molecular gas outflows originating from quasars, which are extremely bright and compact areas powered by supermassive black holes.
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile detected these outflows from a quasar when the universe was less than one billion years old.
These outflows play a crucial role in controlling star formation in galaxies, as they eject molecular gas into intergalactic space faster than it could be consumed by star formation, effectively suppressing the formation of stars in galaxies that host quasars.
The quasar observed, J2054-0005, is one of the brightest quasars in the distant universe, providing a unique glimpse into the early universe.
The findings from this study are the first strong evidence that powerful molecular gas outflows from quasar-host galaxies exist and impact galaxy evolution at the early cosmic age.