The transition from galaxy-wide gas inflow to outflow in quasar host galaxies

IF 6.4 1区物理与天体物理 Q1 PHYSICS, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy Pub Date : 2024-10-24 DOI:10.1007/s11433-024-2475-7

Zhicheng He, Zhifu Chen, Guilin Liu, Tinggui Wang, Luis C. Ho, Junxian Wang, Weihao Bian, Zheng Cai, Guobin Mou, Qiusheng Gu, Zhiwen Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Galactic-scale outflows driven by active galactic nuclei (AGNs) represent a commonly invoked feedback mechanism within galaxy evolution models. However, the interactions among interstellar gas on galactic scales, the propagation of AGN outflows, and the fundamental parameters of AGNs during their evolutionary processes remain poorly understood. Notably, powerful nuclear outflows are typically associated with the early stages of AGN activity, which are characterized by high accretion rates and weak narrow emission lines. In our analysis of a sample of quasars hosting Mg ii narrow absorption lines (NALs) obtained from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we identify a previously unobserved phenomenon wherein galaxy-scale inflow transitions to outflow dominance, concurrent with a notable increase in the strength of the narrow [O III] line, achieving a confidence level of 6.7σ. This indicates that while nuclear outflows diminish, galaxy-wide outflows intensify as AGNs evolve. These findings suggest that early-stage outflows interact with the interstellar medium on a galactic scale, thereby facilitating a gradual transition to galaxy-wide outflows. This provides observational support for the hypothetical multi-stage propagation of AGN outflows that globally regulates galaxy evolution.

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类星体宿主星系从全星系气体流入到流出的转变

由活动星系核（AGNs）驱动的星系尺度外流是星系演化模型中常用的反馈机制。然而，人们对星系尺度上星际气体之间的相互作用、AGN 外溢的传播以及 AGN 在演化过程中的基本参数仍然知之甚少。值得注意的是，强大的核外流通常与 AGN 活动的早期阶段有关，其特点是高吸积率和弱窄发射线。我们分析了从斯隆数字巡天中获得的带有 Mg ii 窄吸收线（NAL）的类星体样本，发现了一个以前未观察到的现象，即星系尺度的内流过渡到外流主导，同时窄[O III]线的强度显著增加，置信度达到 6.7σ。这表明在核外流减弱的同时，星系范围的外流随着AGN的演化而增强。这些发现表明，早期阶段的外流与星系尺度的星际介质相互作用，从而促进了向全星系外流的逐渐过渡。这为AGN外流的多级传播假说提供了观测支持，AGN外流在全球范围内调节着星系的演化。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy PHYSICS, MULTIDISCIPLINARY-

CiteScore

10.30

自引率

6.20%

发文量

4047

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy, an academic journal cosponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and published by Science China Press, is committed to publishing high-quality, original results in both basic and applied research. Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy, is published in both print and electronic forms. It is indexed by Science Citation Index. Categories of articles: Reviews summarize representative results and achievements in a particular topic or an area, comment on the current state of research, and advise on the research directions. The author’s own opinion and related discussion is requested. Research papers report on important original results in all areas of physics, mechanics and astronomy. Brief reports present short reports in a timely manner of the latest important results.