The Era of Population III Stars
A few hundred million years following the Big Bang, the universe remained a dark environment devoid of galaxies and planets. During this period, the cosmos lacked heavy elements like oxygen or carbon, consisting instead of vast expanses of primordial helium and hydrogen.
The Function of Minihalos
The birth of the first stars, categorized as Population III stars, was driven by the influence of dark matter. This invisible substance formed structures known as minihalos, which acted as gravitational anchors that attracted surrounding primordial gas clouds.
Mechanisms of Early Stellar Birth
As gas accumulated within these dark matter cocoons, it eventually collapsed under its own gravity. This process triggered the formation of the earliest stars, ending the cosmic dark ages and initiating the chemical evolution of the universe through the creation of the first heavy elements.