Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We present a multiwavelength analysis of a young bubble in the nuclear starburst of NGC 253 using new JWST MIRI–MRS observations together with archival ALMA (100, 350, 690 GHz) and Chandra data. The MIRI maps reveal a prominent bubble-like structure in both ionized and molecular emission lines. The bubble is spatially coincident with one of the least embedded massive young clusters detected with ALMA, suggesting that the cluster is driving the expansion. We measure a radius of ∼11.5 ± 3.4 pc and an expansion velocity of ∼90 ± 44 km s −1 , implying a dynamical age of ∼0.1 ± 0.1 Myr. Using RADEX modeling of multiple CO transitions, we infer a molecular mass in the range of (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10 4 to (2.8 ± 0.8) × 10 5 M ⊙ . We derive a kinetic energy on the order 10 51−52 erg, consistent with mechanical input from Wolf–Rayet stellar winds or supernovae in a ∼10 6 M ⊙ cluster. The existence of a large population of Wolf–Rayet stars or past supernovae is supported by the presence of coincident X-ray emission. Our results provide direct evidence that individual clusters in a nuclear environment can carve out coherent structures on parsec scales and inject significant energy and momentum into the surrounding interstellar medium, which can contribute to the nuclear outflow in NGC 253.
Source: The Astronomical Journal
Authors: Kaitlyn E. Sheriff, Elisabeth A. C. Mills, Xinyu Mai, Utsav Siwakoti, Sara E. Duval, Alberto D. Bolatto, Rebecca C. Levy, Jia Wei Teh, Torsten Böker, Serena A. Cronin, Daniel A. Dale, Keaton Donaghue, Kimberly Emig, Simon C. O. Glover, Rodrigo Herrera-Camus, Ralf S. Klessen, Thomas S.-Y. Lai, Ashley E. Lieber, Laura Lenkić, Sebastian Lopez, David S. Meier, Jüergen Ott, J. D. T. Smith, Yu-Hsuan Teng, Paul P. van der Werf, Sylvain Veilleux, Vicente Villanueva, Rachel Cionitti, Joseph Havens, Maleah Rhem, Nathan Shaw, Kai Smith, Hazel Belfiore Wright, Md Abdullah Al Zaman
Institutions: University of Kansas, University of Toledo, University of Maryland, College Park, Space Telescope Science Institute, Heidelberg University, European Space Agency, University of Wyoming, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Concepción, California Institute of Technology, The Ohio State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Leiden University, Universidad Diego Portales
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Space Telescope Science Institute, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Universidad de Concepción, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, National Science and Technology Council, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
Awards: G1365422496, G1675634561, G1886942005, G2329447088, CAREER: RACING -- Resolving the Activity Cycle In the Nearest Galaxies, G2428672771, G4538171546, MILLENIUM NUCLEUS FOR GALAXIES, Collaborative Research: ACES Galactic Center Mass Flow, G5834573078, G6526081583, G6671297155, G6965168072, EXC 2181: STRUKTUREN: Emergenz in Natur, Mathematik und komplexen Daten, CENTRO DE ASTROFISICA Y TECNOLOGIAS AFINES (CATA)
OpenAlex ID: W7213405781