SUPPRESSION OF STAR FORMATION IN NGC 1266

NGC1266 is a nearby lenticular galaxy that harbors a massive outflow of molecular gas powered by the mechanical energy of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). It has been speculated that such outflows hinder star formation (SF) in their host galaxies, providing a form of feedback to the process of gala...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2015-01, Vol.798 (1), p.1-14
Main Authors: Alatalo, Katherine, Lacy, Mark, Lanz, Lauranne, Bitsakis, Theodoros, Appleton, Philip N, Nyland, Kristina, Calls, Sabrina L, Chang, Philip, Davis, Timothy A, de Zeeuw, P T, Lonsdale, Carol J, Martin, Sergio, Meier, David S, Ogle, Patrick M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Active galactic nuclei
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
BLACK HOLES
DENSITY
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
FEEDBACK
Fluid dynamics
Galaxy formation
GALAXY NUCLEI
GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE
JETS
Outflow
PHOTON EMISSION
QUASARS
RADIO GALAXIES
STAR CLUSTERS
Star formation
STARS
Turbulence
Wavelengths
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Summary:NGC1266 is a nearby lenticular galaxy that harbors a massive outflow of molecular gas powered by the mechanical energy of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). It has been speculated that such outflows hinder star formation (SF) in their host galaxies, providing a form of feedback to the process of galaxy formation. Previous studies, however, indicated that only jets from extremely rare, high-power quasars or radio galaxies could impart significant feedback on their hosts. Here we present detailed observations of the gas and dust continuum of NGC1266 at millimeter wavelengths. The AGN-driven bulk outflow could account for this extreme suppression by hindering the fragmentation and gravitational collapse necessary to form stars through a process of turbulent injection. The result suggests that even relatively common, low-power AGNs are able to alter the evolution of their host galaxies as their black holes grow onto the M-[sigma] relation.
ISSN:1538-4357
0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/798/1/31