🔭 astrophysics

Euclid: The convective-transition gap of 47 Tuc

Using high-resolution Euclid data, researchers report the first detection of the elusive convective-transition gap in the metal-rich globular cluster 47 Tuc, demonstrating the feature's broader applicability and Euclid's transformative potential for studying stellar populations beyond cosmology.

Original authors: M. Libralato (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), M. Griggio (Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA), R. GM. Libralato (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), M. Griggio (Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA), R. Gerasimov (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Notre Dame, Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, 46556, Indiana, USA), L. R. Bedin (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), I. McDonald (Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK), B. Altieri (ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain), J. Anderson (Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA), F. Annibali (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), E. Balbinot (Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, PO Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands), G. Battaglia (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Universidad de La Laguna, Dpto. Astrofí sica, E-38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain), A. Bellini (Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA), P. Casenove (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales -- Centre spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France), J. -C. Cuillandre (Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Cité, CEA, CNRS, AIM, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France), E. Dalessandro (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), A. M. N. Ferguson (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK), H. R. A. Jones (Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK), K. Kuijken (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands), F. Z. Majidi (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy), D. Massari (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), A. Mohandasan (Universite Marie et Louis Pasteur, CNRS, Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers THETA Franche-Comte Bourgogne, Institut UTINAM, Observatoire de Besançon, BP 1615, 25010 Besançon Cedex, France), F. Niederhofer (Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik), G. Polenta (Space Science Data Center, Italian Space Agency, via del Politecnico snc, 00133 Roma, Italy), J. D. Sakowska (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomí a, 18080, Granada, Spain), F. Soldano (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, UMR 7095, CNRS, and Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, 75014 Paris, France), C. Zerbinati (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), S. Andreon (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via Brera 28, 20122 Milano, Italy), N. Auricchio (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), H. Aussel (Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Cité, CEA, CNRS, AIM, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France), C. Baccigalupi (IFPU, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe, via Beirut 2, 34151 Trieste, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy, INFN, Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste TS, Italy, SISSA, International School for Advanced Studies, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste TS, Italy), M. Baldi (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), A. Balestra (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), P. Battaglia (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), A. Biviano (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy, IFPU, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe, via Beirut 2, 34151 Trieste, Italy), E. Branchini (Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146, Genova, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146, Genova, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via Brera 28, 20122 Milano, Italy), M. Brescia (Department of Physics "E. Pancini", University Federico II, Via Cinthia 6, 80126, Napoli, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy), S. Camera (Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese), V. Capobianco (INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese), C. Carbone (INAF-IASF Milano, Via Alfonso Corti 12, 20133 Milano, Italy), J. Carretero (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Port d'Informació Científica, Campus UAB, C. Albareda s/n, 08193 Bellaterra), M. Castellano (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monteporzio Catone, Italy), G. Castignani (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), S. Cavuoti (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy, INFN section of Naples, Via Cinthia 6, 80126, Napoli, Italy), K. C. Chambers (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA), A. Cimatti (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi" - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), C. Colodro-Conde (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain), G. Congedo (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK), C. J. Conselice (Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK), L. Conversi (European Space Agency/ESRIN, Largo Galileo Galilei 1, 00044 Frascati, Roma, Italy, ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain), Y. Copin (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IP2I Lyon, UMR 5822, Villeurbanne, F-69100, France), F. Courbin (Institut de Ciències del Cosmos, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Institut de Ciencies de l'Espai), H. M. Courtois (UCB Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IUF, IP2I Lyon, 4 rue Enrico Fermi, 69622 Villeurbanne, France), M. Cropper (Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK), H. Degaudenzi (Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, ch. d'Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland), G. De Lucia (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), H. Dole (Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut d'astrophysique spatiale, 91405, Orsay, France), F. Dubath (Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, ch. d'Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland), X. Dupac (ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain), M. Farina (INAF-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, via del Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 00100 Roma, Italy), R. Farinelli (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), F. Faustini (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monteporzio Catone, Italy), S. Ferriol (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IP2I Lyon, UMR 5822, Villeurbanne, F-69100, France), M. Frailis (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), E. Franceschi (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), S. Galeotta (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), K. George (University Observatory, LMU Faculty of Physics, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 Munich, Germany), B. Gillis (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK), C. Giocoli (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), J. Gracia-Carpio (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany), A. Grazian (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), F. Grupp (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany, Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 München, Germany), S. V. H. Haugan (Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1029 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway), H. Hoekstra (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands), W. Holmes (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA), I. M. Hook (Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK), F. Hormuth (Felix Hormuth Engineering, Goethestr. 17, 69181 Leimen, Germany), A. Hornstrup (Technical University of Denmark, Elektrovej 327, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, Cosmic Dawn Center), K. Jahnke (Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany), M. Jhabvala (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA), S. Kermiche (Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France), A. Kiessling (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA), B. Kubik (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IP2I Lyon, UMR 5822, Villeurbanne, F-69100, France), M. Kümmel (Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 München, Germany), M. Kunz (Université de Genève, Département de Physique Théorique and Centre for Astroparticle Physics, 24 quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland), H. Kurki-Suonio (Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland), A. M. C. Le Brun (Laboratoire d'etude de l'Univers et des phenomenes eXtremes, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 92190 Meudon, France), S. Ligori (INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese), P. B. Lilje (Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1029 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway), V. Lindholm (Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland), I. Lloro (SKAO, Jodrell Bank, Lower Withington, Macclesfield SK11 9FT, UK), O. Mansutti (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), O. Marggraf (Universität Bonn, Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany), M. Martinelli (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monteporzio Catone, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 2 - c/o Dipartimento di Fisica, Edificio G. Marconi, 00185 Roma, Italy), N. Martinet (Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France), F. Marulli (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi" - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, via Piero Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), R. J. Massey (Department of Physics, Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK), E. Medinaceli (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), S. Mei (Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Astroparticule et Cosmologie, 75013 Paris, France, CNRS-UCB International Research Laboratory, Centre Pierre Binétruy, IRL2007, CPB-IN2P3, Berkeley, USA), M. Meneghetti (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), E. Merlin (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), G. Meylan (Institute of Physics, Laboratory of Astrophysics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), A. Mora (Telespazio UK S.L. for European Space Agency), L. Moscardini (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi" - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, via Piero Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), R. Nakajima (Universität Bonn, Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany), R. C. Nichol (School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK), S. -M. Niemi (European Space Agency/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands), C. Padilla (Institut de Física d'Altes Energies), S. Paltani (Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, ch. d'Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland), F. Pasian (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), W. J. Percival (Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 2Y5, Canada), V. Pettorino (European Space Agency/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands), M. Poncet (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales -- Centre spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France), L. A. Popa (Institute of Space Science, Str. Atomistilor, nr. 409 Măgurele, Ilfov, 077125, Romania), F. Raison (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany), A. Renzi (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy, INFN-Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), J. Rhodes (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA), G. Riccio (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy), F. Rizzo (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), E. Romelli (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), M. Roncarelli (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), R. Saglia (Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 München, Germany, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany), Z. Sakr (Instituto de Física Teórica UAM-CSIC, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université St Joseph, Faculty of Sciences, Beirut, Lebanon), D. Sapone (Departamento de Física, FCFM, Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2008, Santiago, Chile), M. Schirmer (Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany), P. Schneider (Universität Bonn, Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany), T. Schrabback (Universität Innsbruck, Institut für Astro- und Teilchenphysik, Technikerstr. 25/8, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria), A. Secroun (Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France), E. Sihvola (Department of Physics and Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland), P. Simon (Universität Bonn, Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany), C. Sirignano (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy, INFN-Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy), G. Sirri (INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), L. Stanco (INFN-Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy), P. Tallada-Crespí (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Port d'Informació Científica, Campus UAB, C. Albareda s/n, 08193 Bellaterra), A. N. Taylor (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK), I. Tereno (Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C8, Campo Grande, PT1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal, Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-018 Lisboa, Portugal), S. Toft (Cosmic Dawn Center, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 128, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark), R. Toledo-Moreo (Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Departamento de Electrónica y Tecnología de Computadoras, Plaza del Hospital 1, 30202 Cartagena, Spain, European University of Technology EUt+, European Union), F. Torradeflot (Port d'Informació Científica, Campus UAB, C. Albareda s/n, 08193 Bellaterra, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), I. Tutusaus (Institute of Space Sciences, Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie), J. Valiviita (Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland), T. Vassallo (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy, University Observatory, LMU Faculty of Physics, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 Munich, Germany), Y. Wang (Caltech/IPAC, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA), J. Weller (Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 München, Germany, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany), D. Scott (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada)

Published 2026-06-30

📖 4 min read☕ Coffee break read

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Original authors: M. Libralato (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), M. Griggio (Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA), R. Gerasimov (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Notre Dame, Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, 46556, Indiana, USA), L. R. Bedin (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), I. McDonald (Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK), B. Altieri (ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain), J. Anderson (Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA), F. Annibali (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), E. Balbinot (Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, PO Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands), G. Battaglia (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain, Universidad de La Laguna, Dpto. Astrofí sica, E-38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain), A. Bellini (Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA), P. Casenove (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales -- Centre spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France), J. -C. Cuillandre (Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Cité, CEA, CNRS, AIM, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France), E. Dalessandro (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), A. M. N. Ferguson (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK), H. R. A. Jones (Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK), K. Kuijken (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands), F. Z. Majidi (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy), D. Massari (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), A. Mohandasan (Universite Marie et Louis Pasteur, CNRS, Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers THETA Franche-Comte Bourgogne, Institut UTINAM, Observatoire de Besançon, BP 1615, 25010 Besançon Cedex, France), F. Niederhofer (Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik), G. Polenta (Space Science Data Center, Italian Space Agency, via del Politecnico snc, 00133 Roma, Italy), J. D. Sakowska (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomí a, 18080, Granada, Spain), F. Soldano (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, UMR 7095, CNRS, and Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, 75014 Paris, France), C. Zerbinati (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), S. Andreon (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via Brera 28, 20122 Milano, Italy), N. Auricchio (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), H. Aussel (Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Cité, CEA, CNRS, AIM, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France), C. Baccigalupi (IFPU, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe, via Beirut 2, 34151 Trieste, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy, INFN, Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste TS, Italy, SISSA, International School for Advanced Studies, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste TS, Italy), M. Baldi (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), A. Balestra (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), P. Battaglia (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), A. Biviano (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy, IFPU, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe, via Beirut 2, 34151 Trieste, Italy), E. Branchini (Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146, Genova, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146, Genova, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via Brera 28, 20122 Milano, Italy), M. Brescia (Department of Physics "E. Pancini", University Federico II, Via Cinthia 6, 80126, Napoli, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy), S. Camera (Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese), V. Capobianco (INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese), C. Carbone (INAF-IASF Milano, Via Alfonso Corti 12, 20133 Milano, Italy), J. Carretero (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Port d'Informació Científica, Campus UAB, C. Albareda s/n, 08193 Bellaterra), M. Castellano (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monteporzio Catone, Italy), G. Castignani (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), S. Cavuoti (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy, INFN section of Naples, Via Cinthia 6, 80126, Napoli, Italy), K. C. Chambers (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA), A. Cimatti (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi" - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), C. Colodro-Conde (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain), G. Congedo (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK), C. J. Conselice (Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK), L. Conversi (European Space Agency/ESRIN, Largo Galileo Galilei 1, 00044 Frascati, Roma, Italy, ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain), Y. Copin (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IP2I Lyon, UMR 5822, Villeurbanne, F-69100, France), F. Courbin (Institut de Ciències del Cosmos, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Institut de Ciencies de l'Espai), H. M. Courtois (UCB Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IUF, IP2I Lyon, 4 rue Enrico Fermi, 69622 Villeurbanne, France), M. Cropper (Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK), H. Degaudenzi (Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, ch. d'Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland), G. De Lucia (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), H. Dole (Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut d'astrophysique spatiale, 91405, Orsay, France), F. Dubath (Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, ch. d'Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland), X. Dupac (ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain), M. Farina (INAF-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, via del Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 00100 Roma, Italy), R. Farinelli (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), F. Faustini (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monteporzio Catone, Italy), S. Ferriol (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IP2I Lyon, UMR 5822, Villeurbanne, F-69100, France), M. Frailis (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), E. Franceschi (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), S. Galeotta (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), K. George (University Observatory, LMU Faculty of Physics, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 Munich, Germany), B. Gillis (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK), C. Giocoli (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), J. Gracia-Carpio (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany), A. Grazian (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), F. Grupp (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany, Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 München, Germany), S. V. H. Haugan (Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1029 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway), H. Hoekstra (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands), W. Holmes (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA), I. M. Hook (Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK), F. Hormuth (Felix Hormuth Engineering, Goethestr. 17, 69181 Leimen, Germany), A. Hornstrup (Technical University of Denmark, Elektrovej 327, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark, Cosmic Dawn Center), K. Jahnke (Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany), M. Jhabvala (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA), S. Kermiche (Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France), A. Kiessling (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA), B. Kubik (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IP2I Lyon, UMR 5822, Villeurbanne, F-69100, France), M. Kümmel (Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 München, Germany), M. Kunz (Université de Genève, Département de Physique Théorique and Centre for Astroparticle Physics, 24 quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland), H. Kurki-Suonio (Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland), A. M. C. Le Brun (Laboratoire d'etude de l'Univers et des phenomenes eXtremes, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 92190 Meudon, France), S. Ligori (INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese), P. B. Lilje (Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1029 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway), V. Lindholm (Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland), I. Lloro (SKAO, Jodrell Bank, Lower Withington, Macclesfield SK11 9FT, UK), O. Mansutti (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), O. Marggraf (Universität Bonn, Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany), M. Martinelli (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monteporzio Catone, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 2 - c/o Dipartimento di Fisica, Edificio G. Marconi, 00185 Roma, Italy), N. Martinet (Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France), F. Marulli (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi" - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, via Piero Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), R. J. Massey (Department of Physics, Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK), E. Medinaceli (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), S. Mei (Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Astroparticule et Cosmologie, 75013 Paris, France, CNRS-UCB International Research Laboratory, Centre Pierre Binétruy, IRL2007, CPB-IN2P3, Berkeley, USA), M. Meneghetti (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), E. Merlin (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy), G. Meylan (Institute of Physics, Laboratory of Astrophysics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), A. Mora (Telespazio UK S.L. for European Space Agency), L. Moscardini (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi" - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, via Piero Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy, INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), R. Nakajima (Universität Bonn, Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany), R. C. Nichol (School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK), S. -M. Niemi (European Space Agency/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands), C. Padilla (Institut de Física d'Altes Energies), S. Paltani (Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, ch. d'Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland), F. Pasian (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), W. J. Percival (Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 2Y5, Canada), V. Pettorino (European Space Agency/ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands), M. Poncet (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales -- Centre spatial de Toulouse, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse Cedex 9, France), L. A. Popa (Institute of Space Science, Str. Atomistilor, nr. 409 Măgurele, Ilfov, 077125, Romania), F. Raison (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany), A. Renzi (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy, INFN-Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy, INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), J. Rhodes (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA), G. Riccio (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy), F. Rizzo (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), E. Romelli (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy), M. Roncarelli (INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy), R. Saglia (Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 München, Germany, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany), Z. Sakr (Instituto de Física Teórica UAM-CSIC, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université St Joseph, Faculty of Sciences, Beirut, Lebanon), D. Sapone (Departamento de Física, FCFM, Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2008, Santiago, Chile), M. Schirmer (Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany), P. Schneider (Universität Bonn, Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany), T. Schrabback (Universität Innsbruck, Institut für Astro- und Teilchenphysik, Technikerstr. 25/8, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria), A. Secroun (Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France), E. Sihvola (Department of Physics and Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland), P. Simon (Universität Bonn, Argelander-Institut für Astronomie, Auf dem Hügel 71, 53121 Bonn, Germany), C. Sirignano (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy, INFN-Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy), G. Sirri (INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy), L. Stanco (INFN-Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy), P. Tallada-Crespí (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Port d'Informació Científica, Campus UAB, C. Albareda s/n, 08193 Bellaterra), A. N. Taylor (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK), I. Tereno (Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C8, Campo Grande, PT1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal, Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-018 Lisboa, Portugal), S. Toft (Cosmic Dawn Center, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 128, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark), R. Toledo-Moreo (Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Departamento de Electrónica y Tecnología de Computadoras, Plaza del Hospital 1, 30202 Cartagena, Spain, European University of Technology EUt+, European Union), F. Torradeflot (Port d'Informació Científica, Campus UAB, C. Albareda s/n, 08193 Bellaterra, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), I. Tutusaus (Institute of Space Sciences, Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie), J. Valiviita (Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland, Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland), T. Vassallo (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy, University Observatory, LMU Faculty of Physics, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 Munich, Germany), Y. Wang (Caltech/IPAC, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA), J. Weller (Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, 81679 München, Germany, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany), D. Scott (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada)

Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ✨ This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer

Imagine a crowded ballroom filled with thousands of dancers. Most of them are moving in a smooth, predictable line, getting smaller and dimmer as they age. But in this specific ballroom, there's a strange, sudden "skip" in the line—a place where the dancers seem to vanish for a moment before reappearing.

This paper is about finding that "skip" in the dance line of a massive, ancient star cluster called 47 Tucanae (or 47 Tuc), using data from a new space telescope called Euclid.

Here is the breakdown of what the scientists found, using simple analogies:

1. The "Missing Step" in the Dance

Stars, like people, go through different stages of life. Low-mass stars (the "small dancers") spend most of their lives on the "Main Sequence," which is like a long, steady runway.

Scientists have long suspected that at a certain point in a star's life, its internal engine changes. It switches from having a "partial" engine to a "full" engine. Think of it like a car shifting gears. When that shift happens, the star's brightness drops slightly, creating a tiny gap in the line of stars. This is called the "convective-transition gap" (or the "M-dwarf gap").

Until now, this gap was very hard to see. It was like trying to spot a single missing step in a staircase while looking at it from very far away. Only two other times had anyone successfully found this gap in a star cluster.

2. The Super-Telescope (Euclid)

The researchers used the Euclid space telescope. You can think of Euclid as a super-powered pair of binoculars that can see incredibly faint details across a huge area of the sky.

Because Euclid is so sharp and can see so many stars at once, the team was able to look at 47 Tuc and clearly spot that "missing step" in the line of stars. They found a sharp drop in the number of stars at a specific brightness level (about magnitude 22.9). It wasn't a mistake or a glitch; it was a real, physical gap in the crowd.

3. Why This Matters: The "Chemical Fingerprint"

The most exciting part of the paper isn't just finding the gap, but what the gap tells us about the stars' "diet."

The Old Theory: Scientists thought this gap might only happen in young stars or stars with very low metal content (like the cluster NGC 6397, where it was first found).
The New Discovery: 47 Tuc is an "older" and "metal-rich" cluster (meaning it has more heavy elements, like a richer diet). Finding the gap here proves that this "missing step" is a universal feature, not just a fluke of young or metal-poor stars.

The Chemical Detective Work:
The paper suggests that the exact position and width of this gap act like a chemical fingerprint.

Imagine the gap is a ruler. The paper claims that if the stars have different amounts of oxygen (a specific chemical element), the ruler shifts slightly.
In 47 Tuc, the stars are known to have different "generations" with different chemical recipes (some have more oxygen, some have less).
The scientists noticed that the gap they found was slightly "blurry" or wide. They believe this blurriness is caused by the mix of different chemical generations in the cluster. It's like looking at a crowd where some people are wearing slightly different colored shirts; from a distance, the line looks a bit fuzzy.

4. The Conclusion

The paper concludes that Euclid has successfully found this elusive gap in a metal-rich cluster for the first time.

What it proves: This "gap" is a real, universal feature of low-mass stars.
What it does: It acts as a powerful new tool. By measuring exactly where the gap is and how wide it is, astronomers can figure out the internal chemical makeup of star clusters without needing to take complex, difficult spectra of every single star. It's like being able to guess the ingredients of a cake just by looking at a tiny crack in the frosting.

In short, Euclid didn't just take a pretty picture; it found a subtle "glitch" in the starry line that helps us understand the hidden chemistry of the universe's oldest star clusters.

Technical Summary: Euclid: The convective-transition gap of 47 Tuc

Problem and Context
The "convective-transition gap" (also known as the M-dwarf or Gaia gap) is a narrow discontinuity in the luminosity function of low-mass stars, attributed to the transition from partial to full convection and associated $^3$ He production and mixing. While previously identified in the solar neighborhood and tentatively in the open cluster NGC 2158, its presence in globular clusters (GCs) had remained elusive. A recent detection in the metal-poor cluster NGC 6397 suggested the feature might be universal, but the lack of detections in metal-rich environments raised questions about whether the gap is confined to specific age or metallicity regimes. This paper addresses the need to detect and characterize this feature in a significantly more metal-rich globular cluster to test the universality of the phenomenon and explore its utility as a diagnostic for internal stellar structure and chemical composition.

Methodology
The authors utilized data from the Euclid Early Release Observations (ERO) targeting the globular cluster 47 Tuc (NGC 104).

Data Acquisition: Observations were conducted in November 2024, comprising a $2\times2$ mosaic with six VIS (IE filter) and four NISP (YE, JE, HE filters) exposures per pointing.
Photometric Reduction: The team employed the KS2 multiple-pass photometry tool, adapted for Euclid, which utilizes effective-PSF (ePSF) fitting and neighbor subtraction to handle the crowded environment of 47 Tuc. Data were processed using the official Euclid Level-2 pipeline.
Selection Criteria: Strict quality cuts were applied to ensure well-measured stars, including limits on PSF fit quality (QFIT), magnitude uncertainty ( $\sigma_{mag}$ ), flux excess/deficiency (RADXS), and saturation.
Analysis:
- A main-sequence (MS) fiducial line was derived using kernel-density estimation (KDE) on the color-magnitude diagram (CMD).
- A completeness-corrected present-day luminosity function (LF) was constructed using averaged-shifted histograms and bootstrap resampling across six radial bins.
- The observed LF was compared against theoretical models generated using the MESA code (v23.05.1) and model atmospheres tailored to 47 Tuc's parameters ($[Fe/H] = -0.75$, $[O/Fe] = 0.33$, age = 11.5 Gyr).
- Theoretical mass-luminosity relationships were converted to synthetic LFs using Monte Carlo simulations with varying initial mass function (IMF) slopes.
- A Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm was used to fit the theoretical gap profile to the observed data, constraining the gap magnitude, broadening width, and IMF slope.

Key Results

Detection: The study reports the first detection of the convective-transition gap in 47 Tuc. A statistically significant, sharp discontinuity is observed in the MS luminosity function at $I_E \approx 22.9$ . The local minimum is precisely measured at $I_{E, gap} = 22.921^{+0.067}_{-0.014}$ (formal internal errors).
Comparison with NGC 6397: When compared to the gap in the metal-poor NGC 6397, the gap in 47 Tuc is approximately 0.75–0.8 mag fainter and exhibits a shallower slope. This confirms the feature exists in metal-rich environments, suggesting it is a general property of low-mass stars rather than one confined to metal-poor populations.
Comparison with Solar Neighborhood: The gap in 47 Tuc is fainter than the gap in the solar neighborhood (Gaia sample), but the relationship between gap magnitude and metallicity is non-linear. The offset between the metal-poor and metal-rich clusters is larger than the offset between the metal-rich cluster and the solar neighborhood, indicating metallicity alone does not fully drive the gap's morphology.
Chemical Sensitivity: Theoretical modeling suggests the gap's magnitude is sensitive to light-element abundances, particularly oxygen ($[O/Fe]$), with a shift of $\sim0.026$ mag per 0.1 dex increase in $[O/Fe]$.
Multiple Stellar Populations (mPOPs): The observed gap is broadened by $\sigma \approx 0.025$ mag. After accounting for photometric errors, an intrinsic broadening of $\sim0.018$ mag remains. The authors attribute this broadening to the spread in light-element abundances (mPOPs) within 47 Tuc.
Radial Trends: The gap magnitude appears to be brighter in the inner regions of the cluster, tentatively correlating with lower oxygen content, consistent with known radial trends of mPOPs in 47 Tuc.

Significance and Claims
The paper claims that the detection of the convective gap in 47 Tuc demonstrates the transformative potential of Euclid for resolved stellar population studies beyond cosmology. The primary significance of this work lies in:

Universality: Establishing that the convective gap is a robust feature across a wide range of metallicities, from metal-poor (NGC 6397) to metal-rich (47 Tuc) environments.
Diagnostic Tool: Proposing the gap as a powerful, high-precision diagnostic for probing the internal chemical structure of globular clusters. The authors suggest that the gap's magnitude and broadening encode information about star-to-star variations in light-element abundances (specifically oxygen), potentially offering higher precision than spectroscopic measurements.
Standard Candle Potential: While noting that uncertainties regarding differential reddening and metallicity must be resolved, the authors suggest the gap has the potential to become a new, precise standard candle for low-mass stars.

The authors remain modest regarding the detailed physical modeling, acknowledging that the oscillatory behavior of stars in the transition region may involve modeling artifacts and that a fully self-consistent model is beyond the scope of this initial detection. They emphasize that the observed features (broadening, radial variation) are tentative signatures of mPOPs that require further dedicated follow-up and systematic error analysis to confirm.

1. The "Missing Step" in the Dance

2. The Super-Telescope (Euclid)

3. Why This Matters: The "Chemical Fingerprint"

4. The Conclusion

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