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Ram-pressure feeding of supermassive black holes
Bianca M Poggianti1, Yara L Jaffé2, Alessia Moretti1
1INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Padova, vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy.
Nature
|August 18, 2017
Summary
Ram-pressure stripping in galaxy clusters can funnel gas to fuel active galactic nuclei. This study finds that most jellyfish galaxies, which are heavily stripped, host active nuclei, suggesting ram pressure triggers this feeding process.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Galaxy Evolution
Background:
- Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are powered by supermassive black holes accreting matter.
- Gas funnelling to galactic centers and gas removal from galaxies are key processes in galaxy evolution.
- Ram-pressure stripping by intracluster gas is a known mechanism for removing gas from galaxies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between ram-pressure stripping and the incidence of active galactic nuclei in jellyfish galaxies.
- To determine the physical processes responsible for feeding supermassive black holes in stripped galaxies.
Main Methods:
- Observation and analysis of a sample of seven jellyfish galaxies.
- Assessment of nuclear activity and ionization cones in these galaxies.
- Analysis of galactic position and velocity relative to the galaxy cluster.
Main Results:
- Six out of seven jellyfish galaxies in the sample host an active nucleus.
- Two of these galaxies also exhibit galactic-scale ionization cones.
- The data strongly supports ram pressure as a mechanism for gas inflow towards the galactic center.
Conclusions:
- Ram-pressure stripping is a significant factor in triggering active galactic nuclei in jellyfish galaxies.
- This process provides a viable mechanism for feeding central supermassive black holes.
- The interaction between ram pressure and AGN activity may be a complex feedback loop.
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