Molecular outflows in galaxy merger simulations with embedded active galactic nuclei

Desika Narayanan; Thomas J. Cox; Brant E Robertson; Romeel S Dave; Tiziana D.I. Matteo; Lars Hernquist; Philip Hopkins; Craig Kulesa; Christopher K. Walker

doi:10.1086/504846

Molecular outflows in galaxy merger simulations with embedded active galactic nuclei

Desika Narayanan, Thomas J. Cox, Brant E Robertson, Romeel S Dave, Tiziana D.I. Matteo, Lars Hernquist, Philip Hopkins, Craig Kulesa, Christopher K. Walker

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37 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study the effects of feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) on emission from molecular gas in galaxy mergers by combining hydrodynamic simulations that include black holes with a three-dimensional, non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) radiative transfer code. We find that molecular clouds entrained in AGN winds produce an extended CO morphology with significant off-nuclear emission, which may be detectable via contour mapping. Furthermore, kinematic signatures of these molecular outflows are visible in emission-line profiles when the outflow has a large line-of-sight velocity. Our results can help interpret current and upcoming observations of luminous infrared galaxies, as well as provide a detailed test of subresolution prescriptions for supermassive black hole growth in galaxy-scale hydrodynamic simulations.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L107-L110
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	642
Issue number	2 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/504846
State	Published - May 10 2006

Keywords

Cosmology: theory
Galaxies: ISM
Galaxies: active
Galaxies: formation
Galaxies: interactions
Line: formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/504846

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@article{926c5113ead94b8380f25e1b243f3ef9,

title = "Molecular outflows in galaxy merger simulations with embedded active galactic nuclei",

abstract = "We study the effects of feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) on emission from molecular gas in galaxy mergers by combining hydrodynamic simulations that include black holes with a three-dimensional, non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) radiative transfer code. We find that molecular clouds entrained in AGN winds produce an extended CO morphology with significant off-nuclear emission, which may be detectable via contour mapping. Furthermore, kinematic signatures of these molecular outflows are visible in emission-line profiles when the outflow has a large line-of-sight velocity. Our results can help interpret current and upcoming observations of luminous infrared galaxies, as well as provide a detailed test of subresolution prescriptions for supermassive black hole growth in galaxy-scale hydrodynamic simulations.",

keywords = "Cosmology: theory, Galaxies: ISM, Galaxies: active, Galaxies: formation, Galaxies: interactions, Line: formation",

author = "Desika Narayanan and Cox, {Thomas J.} and Robertson, {Brant E} and Dave, {Romeel S} and Matteo, {Tiziana D.I.} and Lars Hernquist and Philip Hopkins and Craig Kulesa and Walker, {Christopher K.}",

note = "Funding Information: D. N. acknowledges financial support from an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.",

year = "2006",

month = may,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1086/504846",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "642",

pages = "L107--L110",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "2 II",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Molecular outflows in galaxy merger simulations with embedded active galactic nuclei

AU - Narayanan, Desika

AU - Cox, Thomas J.

AU - Robertson, Brant E

AU - Dave, Romeel S

AU - Matteo, Tiziana D.I.

AU - Hernquist, Lars

AU - Hopkins, Philip

AU - Kulesa, Craig

AU - Walker, Christopher K.

N1 - Funding Information: D. N. acknowledges financial support from an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

PY - 2006/5/10

Y1 - 2006/5/10

N2 - We study the effects of feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) on emission from molecular gas in galaxy mergers by combining hydrodynamic simulations that include black holes with a three-dimensional, non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) radiative transfer code. We find that molecular clouds entrained in AGN winds produce an extended CO morphology with significant off-nuclear emission, which may be detectable via contour mapping. Furthermore, kinematic signatures of these molecular outflows are visible in emission-line profiles when the outflow has a large line-of-sight velocity. Our results can help interpret current and upcoming observations of luminous infrared galaxies, as well as provide a detailed test of subresolution prescriptions for supermassive black hole growth in galaxy-scale hydrodynamic simulations.

AB - We study the effects of feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) on emission from molecular gas in galaxy mergers by combining hydrodynamic simulations that include black holes with a three-dimensional, non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) radiative transfer code. We find that molecular clouds entrained in AGN winds produce an extended CO morphology with significant off-nuclear emission, which may be detectable via contour mapping. Furthermore, kinematic signatures of these molecular outflows are visible in emission-line profiles when the outflow has a large line-of-sight velocity. Our results can help interpret current and upcoming observations of luminous infrared galaxies, as well as provide a detailed test of subresolution prescriptions for supermassive black hole growth in galaxy-scale hydrodynamic simulations.

KW - Cosmology: theory

KW - Galaxies: ISM

KW - Galaxies: active

KW - Galaxies: formation

KW - Galaxies: interactions

KW - Line: formation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746031841&partnerID=8YFLogxK

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U2 - 10.1086/504846

DO - 10.1086/504846

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33746031841

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 642

SP - L107-L110

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 II

ER -

Molecular outflows in galaxy merger simulations with embedded active galactic nuclei

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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