scholarly journals Black hole mergers from dwarf to massive galaxies with the NewHorizon and Horizon-AGN simulations

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (2) ◽  
pp. 2219-2238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Volonteri ◽  
Hugo Pfister ◽  
Ricarda S Beckmann ◽  
Yohan Dubois ◽  
Monica Colpi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Time Delays ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
Statistical Population ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Merger Rate

ABSTRACT Massive black hole (MBH) coalescences are powerful sources of low-frequency gravitational waves. To study these events in the cosmological context, we need to trace the large-scale structure and cosmic evolution of a statistical population of galaxies, from dim dwarfs to bright galaxies. To cover such a large range of galaxy masses, we analyse two complementary simulations: horizon-AGN with a large volume and low resolution that tracks the high-mass ($\gt 10^7\, {\rm M_\odot }$) MBH population, and NewHorizon with a smaller volume but higher resolution that traces the low-mass ( $\lt 10^7\, {\rm M_\odot }$) MBH population. While Horizon-AGN can be used to estimate the rate of inspirals for pulsar timing arrays, NewHorizon can investigate MBH mergers in a statistical sample of dwarf galaxies for LISA, which is sensitive to low-mass MBHs. We use the same method to analyse the two simulations, post-processing MBH dynamics to account for time delays mostly determined by dynamical friction and stellar hardening. In both simulations, MBHs typically merge long after galaxies do, so that the galaxy morphology at the time of the MBH merger is no longer determined by the structural disturbances engendered by the galaxy merger from which the MBH coalescence has originated. These time delays cause a loss of high-z MBH coalescences, shifting the peak of the MBH merger rate to z ∼ 1–2. This study shows how tracking MBH mergers in low-mass galaxies is crucial to probing the MBH merger rate for LISA and investigate the properties of the host galaxies.

scholarly journals Constraints on and Alternatives to a Massive Black Hole at the Galactic Center

1989 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 555-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonid M. Ozernoy
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Broad Line ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
Broad Line Region ◽  
Line Region ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Very High

Considerations are presented which could serve as nourishment for a “devil's advocate” with regard to the concept of a very massive (~ 106M⊙) black hole at the center of the Galaxy. Constraints on the BH mass given by various processes are summarized. Most attention is paid to a novel probe of the black hole by means of a “wind diagnostic,” i.e. by accounting for interaction of the BH with the wind responsible for the broad line region at the Galactic Center. All available data taken together do not require a very high mass for the BH, but a moderately massive black hole currently seems to present the prime candidacy from several alternatives.

Active galaxies and radiative heating

2005 ◽  
Vol 363 (1828) ◽  
pp. 667-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremiah P. Ostriker ◽  
Luca Ciotti
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Thermal State ◽  
Rest Mass ◽  
Radiant Energy ◽  
Radiative Heating ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Central Regions

There is abundant evidence that heating processes in the central regions of elliptical galaxies have both prevented large–scale cooling flows and assisted in the expulsion of metal rich gas. We now know that each such spheroidal system harbours in its core a massive black hole weighing ca. 0.13% of the mass in stars and also know that energy was emitted by each of these black holes with an efficiency exceeding 10% of its rest mass. Since, if only 0.5% of that radiant energy were intercepted by the ambient gas, its thermal state would be drastically altered, it is worth examining in detail the interaction between the out–flowing radiation and the equilibrium or inflowing gas. On the basis of detailed hydrodynamic computations we find that relaxation oscillations are to be expected with the radiative feedback quite capable of regulating both the growth of the central black hole and also the density and thermal state of the gas in the galaxy. Mechanical input of energy by jets may assist or dominate over these radiative effects. We propose specific observational tests to identify systems which have experienced strong bursts of radiative heating from their central black holes.

scholarly journals NGC 326: X-shaped no more

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (3) ◽  
pp. 3416-3422 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Hardcastle ◽  
J H Croston ◽  
T W Shimwell ◽  
C Tasse ◽  
G Gürkan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Binary Black Holes ◽  
Independent Evidence ◽  
Radio Structure ◽  
Merger Rate ◽  
Source Structure ◽  
Rule Out

ABSTRACT We present new 144-MHz Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) observations of the prototypical ‘X-shaped’ radio galaxy NGC 326, which show that the formerly known wings of the radio lobes extend smoothly into a large-scale, complex radio structure. We argue that this structure is most likely the result of hydrodynamical effects in an ongoing group or cluster merger, for which pre-existing X-ray and optical data provide independent evidence. The large-scale radio structure is hard to explain purely in terms of jet reorientation due to the merger of binary black holes, a previously proposed explanation for the inner structure of NGC 326. For this reason, we suggest that the simplest model is one in which the merger-related hydrodynamical processes account for all the source structure, though we do not rule out the possibility that a black hole merger has occurred. Inference of the black hole–black hole merger rate from observations of X-shaped sources should be carried out with caution in the absence of deep, sensitive low-frequency observations. Some X-shaped sources may be signposts of cluster merger activity, and it would be useful to investigate the environments of these objects more generally.

scholarly journals Emerge: Empirical predictions of galaxy merger rates since z ∼ 6

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A O’Leary ◽  
Benjamin P Moster ◽  
Thorsten Naab ◽  
Rachel S Somerville
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Stellar Mass ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Mass Relation ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Major Merger ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Merger Rate

Abstract We explore the galaxy-galaxy merger rate with the empirical model for galaxy formation, emerge. On average, we find that between 2 per cent and 20 per cent of massive galaxies (log10(m*/M⊙) ≥ 10.3) will experience a major merger per Gyr. Our model predicts galaxy merger rates that do not scale as a power-law with redshift when selected by descendant stellar mass, and exhibit a clear stellar mass and mass-ratio dependence. Specifically, major mergers are more frequent at high masses and at low redshift. We show mergers are significant for the stellar mass growth of galaxies log10(m*/M⊙) ≳ 11.0. For the most massive galaxies major mergers dominate the accreted mass fraction, contributing as much as 90 per cent of the total accreted stellar mass. We reinforce that these phenomena are a direct result of the stellar-to-halo mass relation, which results in massive galaxies having a higher likelihood of experiencing major mergers than low mass galaxies. Our model produces a galaxy pair fraction consistent with recent observations, exhibiting a form best described by a power-law exponential function. Translating these pair fractions into merger rates results in an inaccurate prediction compared to the model intrinsic values when using published observation timescales. We find the pair fraction can be well mapped to the intrinsic merger rate by adopting an observation timescale that decreases linearly with redshift as Tobs = −0.36(1 + z) + 2.39 [Gyr], assuming all observed pairs merge by z = 0.

Effects of supernovae feedback and black hole outflows in the evolution of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (S359) ◽  
pp. 280-282
Author(s):  
Gustavo Amaral Lanfranchi ◽  
Anderson Caproni ◽  
Jennifer F. Soares ◽  
Larissa S. de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Homogeneous Medium ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies ◽  
Stellar Feedback ◽  
Gas Removal ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Ia Supernovae ◽  
Jet Structure

AbstractThe gas evolution of a typical Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy is investigated by means of 3D hydrodynamic simulations, taking into account the feedback of type II and Ia supernovae, the outflow of an Intermediate Massive Black Hole (IMBH) and a static cored dark matter potential. When the IMBH’s outflow is simulated in an homogeneous medium a jet structure is created and a small fraction of the gas is pushed away from the galaxy. No jet structure can be seen, however, when the medium is disturbed by supernovae, but gas is still pushed away. In this case, the main driver of the gas removal are the supernovae. The interplay between the stellar feedback and the IMBH’s outflow should be taken into account.

scholarly journals Circum-nuclear molecular disks: Role in AGN fueling and feedback

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S359) ◽  
pp. 312-317
Author(s):  
Francoise Combes
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Angular Momentum ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Active Galaxy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
Molecular Outflows ◽  
Molecular Outflow

AbstractGas fueling AGN (Active Galaxy Nuclei) is now traceable at high-resolution with ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) and NOEMA (NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array). Dynamical mechanisms are essential to exchange angular momentum and drive the gas to the super-massive black hole. While at 100pc scale, the gas is sometimes stalled in nuclear rings, recent observations reaching 10pc scale (50mas), may bring smoking gun evidence of fueling, within a randomly oriented nuclear gas disk. AGN feedback is also observed, in the form of narrow and collimated molecular outflows, which point towards the radio mode, or entrainment by a radio jet. Precession has been observed in a molecular outflow, indicating the precession of the radio jet. One of the best candidates for precession is the Bardeen-Petterson effect at small scale, which exerts a torque on the accreting material, and produces an extended disk warp. The misalignment between the inner and large-scale disk, enhances the coupling of the AGN feedback, since the jet sweeps a large part of the molecular disk.

scholarly journals Accretion and Outflow in Active Galaxies

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S267) ◽  
pp. 273-282
Author(s):  
Andrew King
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Gas Flows ◽  
Inverse Compton ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Black Hole Growth ◽  
Lower Excitation ◽  
Hole Growth

AbstractI review accretion and outflow in active galactic nuclei. Accreti4on appears to occur in a series of very small-scale, chaotic events, whose gas flows have no correlation with the large-scale structure of the galaxy or with each other. The accreting gas has extremely low specific angular momentum and probably represents only a small fraction of the gas involved in a galaxy merger, which may be the underlying driver.Eddington accretion episodes in AGN must be common in order for the supermassive black holes to grow. I show that they produce winds with velocities v ~ 0.1c and ionization parameters implying the presence of resonance lines of helium-like and hydrogen-like iron. The wind creates a strong cooling shock as it interacts with the interstellar medium of the host galaxy, and this cooling region may be observable in an inverse Compton continuum and lower-excitation emission lines associated with lower velocities. The shell of matter swept up by the shocked wind stalls unless the black hole mass has reached the value Mσ implied by the M–σ relation. Once this mass is reached, further black hole growth is prevented. If the shocked gas did not cool as asserted above, the resulting (“energy-driven”) outflow would imply a far smaller SMBH mass than actually observed. Minor accretion events with small gas fractions can produce galaxy-wide outflows, including fossil outflows in galaxies where there is little current AGN activity.

scholarly journals The impact of AGN feedback on galaxy intrinsic alignments in the Horizon simulations

2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (3) ◽  
pp. 4268-4282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Soussana ◽  
Nora Elisa Chisari ◽  
Sandrine Codis ◽  
Ricarda S Beckmann ◽  
Yohan Dubois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galaxy Evolution ◽  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Angular Momenta ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Universe

ABSTRACT The intrinsic correlations of galaxy shapes and orientations across the large-scale structure of the Universe are a known contaminant to weak gravitational lensing. They are known to be dependent on galaxy properties, such as their mass and morphologies. The complex interplay between alignments and the physical processes that drive galaxy evolution remains vastly unexplored. We assess the sensitivity of intrinsic alignments (shapes and angular momenta) to active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback by comparing galaxy alignment in twin runs of the cosmological hydrodynamical Horizon simulation, which do and do not include AGN feedback, respectively. We measure intrinsic alignments in three dimensions and in projection at $z$ = 0 and $z$ = 1. We find that the projected alignment signal of all galaxies with resolved shapes with respect to the density field in the simulation is robust to AGN feedback, thus giving similar predictions for contamination to weak lensing. The relative alignment of galaxy shapes around galaxy positions is however significantly impacted, especially when considering high-mass ellipsoids. Using a sample of galaxy ‘twins’ across simulations, we determine that AGN changes both the galaxy selection and their actual alignments. Finally, we measure the alignments of angular momenta of galaxies with their nearest filament. Overall, these are more significant in the presence of AGN as a result of the higher abundance of massive pressure-supported galaxies.

scholarly journals Constraining the stellar mass function from the deficiency of tidal disruption flares in the nuclei of massive galaxies

2019 ◽  
Vol 485 (3) ◽  
pp. 4413-4422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J D’Orazio ◽  
Abraham Loeb ◽  
James Guillochon
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Stellar Mass ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
Tidal Disruption ◽  
Massive Black Hole ◽  
Massive Black Holes ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
O 10

ABSTRACT The rate of tidal disruption flares (TDFs) per mass of the disrupting black hole encodes information on the present-day mass function (PDMF) of stars in the clusters surrounding super massive black holes. We explore how the shape of the TDF rate with black hole mass can constrain the PDMF, with only weak dependence on black hole spin. We show that existing data can marginally constrain the minimum and maximum masses of stars in the cluster, and the high-mass end of the PDMF slope, as well as the overall TDF rate. With $\mathcal {O}(100)$ TDFs expected to be identified with the Zwicky Transient Facility, the overall rate can be highly constrained, but still with only marginal constraints on the PDMF. However, if ${\lesssim } 10 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the TDFs expected to be found by LSST over a decade ($\mathcal {O}(10^3)$ TDFs) are identified, then precise and accurate estimates can be made for the minimum stellar mass (within a factor of 2) and the average slope of the high-mass PDMF (to within $\mathcal {O}(10{{\ \rm per\ cent}})$) in nuclear star clusters. This technique could be adapted in the future to probe, in addition to the PDMF, the local black hole mass function and possibly the massive black hole binary population.

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