The Role of Black Hole Feedback in Suppressing Star Formation in Central Galaxies
Abstract
Cavities and bubbles in the extended X-ray emission from massive galaxies demonstrate that feedback from supermassive black holes can have a profound effect on the gaseous atmospheres that surround these systems. The consequences of these effects are thought to suppress the ability of gas to cool and condense to form fuel for star formation. However, the link between the galaxy-scale suppression of star formation, or quiescence, and relatively small-scale black hole physics is not well understood. In order to explore this link, my dissertation work has focused on understanding the relationship between black hole mass, stellar mass, and star formation rate. I found that the latest version of the Munich semi-analytic model featured a black hole mass threshold above which galaxies were quiescent due to the heating rate from black hole feedback overcoming the cooling rate of the gaseous atmosphere (Terrazas et al. 2016a). I searched for and found similar behavior in the real universe using a diverse sample of 91 local galaxies with dynamically-measured black hole masses (Terrazas et al. 2016b, 2017). In particular, I found that galaxies with more massive black holes at a given stellar mass exhibited progressively less star formation. These results present a powerful diagnostic tool with which to test black hole feedback and its effects on star formation activity in galaxy formation models. Specifically, I used the IllustrisTNG simulation suite and dozens of model variations that alter the parameters relevant to its black hole feedback prescription. These variations can greatly effect the way black holes interact with the gas within and around galaxies, and in turn change the relationship between black hole mass, stellar mass, and star formation rate. These results present a novel approach in using black hole-galaxy scaling relations to illuminate the physics behind quiescence caused by black hole feedback.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #233
- Pub Date:
- January 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AAS...23310604T