ULTRAFAST OUTFLOWS: GALAXY-SCALE ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS FEEDBACK

We show, using global three-dimensional grid-based hydrodynamical simulations, that ultrafast outflows (UFOs) from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) result in considerable feedback of energy and momentum into the interstellar medium (ISM) of the host galaxy. The AGN wind interacts strongly with the inho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astrophysical journal. Letters 2013-01, Vol.763 (1), p.1-5
Main Authors: Wagner, A Y, Umemura, M, Bicknell, G V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ablation
Active galactic nuclei
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
BLACK HOLES
BUBBLES
Channels
Clouds
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
Feedback
Floods
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
HYDRODYNAMICS
JETS
MASS
Outflow
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
Three dimensional
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
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Summary:We show, using global three-dimensional grid-based hydrodynamical simulations, that ultrafast outflows (UFOs) from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) result in considerable feedback of energy and momentum into the interstellar medium (ISM) of the host galaxy. The AGN wind interacts strongly with the inhomogeneous, two-phase ISM consisting of dense clouds embedded in a tenuous, hot, hydrostatic medium. The outflow floods through the intercloud channels, sweeps up the hot ISM, and ablates and disperses the dense clouds. The momentum of the UFO is primarily transferred to the dense clouds via the ram pressure in the channel flow, and the wind-blown bubble evolves in the energy-driven regime. Any dependence on UFO opening angle disappears after the first interaction with obstructing clouds. On kpc scales, therefore, feedback by UFOs operates similarly to feedback by relativistic AGN jets. Negative feedback is significantly stronger if clouds are distributed spherically rather than in a disk. In the latter case, the turbulent backflow of the wind drives mass inflow toward the central black hole. Considering the common occurrence of UFOs in AGNs, they are likely to be important in the cosmological feedback cycles of galaxy formation.
ISSN:2041-8205
2041-8213
DOI:10.1088/2041-8205/763/1/L18