Active galactic nuclei and massive galaxy cores - Université Pierre et Marie Curie Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A Année : 2008

Active galactic nuclei and massive galaxy cores

S. Kay
J. Silk
  • Fonction : Auteur

Résumé

Context: Central active galactic nuclei (AGN) are supposed to play a key role in the evolution of their host galaxies. In particular, the dynamical and physical properties of the gas core must be affected by the injected energy.
Aims: Our aim is to study the effects of an AGN on the dark matter profile and on the central stellar light distribution in massive early type galaxies.
Methods: By performing self-consistent N-body simulations, we assume in our analysis that periodic bipolar outbursts from a central AGN can induce harmonic oscillatory motions on both sides of the gas core.
Results: Using realistic AGN properties, we find that the motions of the gas core, driven by such feedback processes, can flatten the dark matter and/or stellar profiles after 4-5 Gyr. These results are consistent with recent observational studies that suggest that most giant elliptical galaxies have cores or are “missing light” in their inner part. Since stars behave as a “collisionless” fluid similar to dark matter, the density profile both of stars and dark matter should be affected in a similar way, leading to an effective reduction in the central brightness.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
aa7956-07.pdf (300.53 Ko) Télécharger le fichier
Origine : Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte

Dates et versions

hal-03646506 , version 1 (30-04-2022)

Identifiants

Citer

S. Peirani, S. Kay, J. Silk. Active galactic nuclei and massive galaxy cores. Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2008, 479, pp.123-129. ⟨10.1051/0004-6361:20077956⟩. ⟨hal-03646506⟩
22 Consultations
2 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More