Abstract

Contributed Talk - Splinter Galaxies

Friday, 11 September 2026, 14:15   (MW-0250)

Physical Conditions for Massive Star Formation in Massive Galaxies in the First Billion Years

Dominik A. Riechers
Universität zu Köln

The cold molecular interstellar medium (ISM) is a key ingredient in massive star formation through cosmic times. I will present detailed observations of the ISM in massive star-forming galaxies at z>6 with ALMA, NOEMA, and the VLA, which in concert with rich multi-wavelength data provide fundamental new constraints on the physical properties and chemical composition of the environments in which stars form down to few hundred parsec scales. These studies also encompass the kinematic properties of the gas, revealing evidence for both ordered rotation and complex, disturbed systems. I will describe how these new insights influence our picture of the evolution of massive galaxies and their stellar content throughout the history of the universe.