Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

A Mechanism for stimulating AGN feedback by lifting gas in massive galaxies

McNamara, B.R.; Russell, H.R.; Nulsen, P.E.J.; Hogan, M.T.; Fabian, A.C.; Pulido, F.; Edge, A.C.

A Mechanism for stimulating AGN feedback by lifting gas in massive galaxies Thumbnail


Authors

B.R. McNamara

H.R. Russell

P.E.J. Nulsen

M.T. Hogan

A.C. Fabian

F. Pulido



Abstract

Observation shows that nebular emission, molecular gas, and young stars in giant galaxies are associated with rising X-ray bubbles inflated by radio jets launched from nuclear black holes. We propose a model where molecular clouds condense from low-entropy gas caught in the updraft of rising X-ray bubbles. The low-entropy gas becomes thermally unstable when it is lifted to an altitude where its cooling time is shorter than the time required to fall to its equilibrium location in the galaxy, i.e., ${t}_{{\rm{c}}}/{t}_{{\rm{I}}}\lesssim 1$. The infall speed of a cloud is bounded by the lesser of its free-fall and terminal speeds, so that the infall time here can exceed the free-fall time by a significant factor. This mechanism is motivated by Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations revealing molecular clouds lying in the wakes of rising X-ray bubbles with velocities well below their free-fall speeds. Our mechanism would provide cold gas needed to fuel a feedback loop while stabilizing the atmosphere on larger scales. The observed cooling time threshold of $\sim 5\times {10}^{8}\,\mathrm{yr}$—the clear-cut signature of thermal instability and the onset of nebular emission and star formation—may result from the limited ability of radio bubbles to lift low-entropy gas to altitudes where thermal instabilities can ensue. Outflowing molecular clouds are unlikely to escape, but instead return to the central galaxy in a circulating flow. We contrast our mechanism to precipitation models where the minimum value of ${t}_{{\rm{c}}}/{t}_{{\rm{ff}}}\lesssim 10$ triggers thermal instability, which we find to be inconsistent with observation.

Citation

McNamara, B., Russell, H., Nulsen, P., Hogan, M., Fabian, A., Pulido, F., & Edge, A. (2016). A Mechanism for stimulating AGN feedback by lifting gas in massive galaxies. Astrophysical Journal, 830(2), https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637x/830/2/79

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 20, 2016
Online Publication Date Oct 14, 2016
Publication Date Oct 14, 2016
Deposit Date Apr 28, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 830
Issue 2
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637x/830/2/79
Related Public URLs arxiv.org/pdf/1604.04629.pdf

Files

Published Journal Article (1 Mb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
© 2016. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





You might also like



Downloadable Citations