ALMA demonstrates the co-evolution of a black hole

ALMA demonstrates the co-evolution of a black hole

This is a picture of WISE1029. The left and right panels display optical images from SDSS and mid-infrared from WISE. Size - 30 square angular seconds. The SDSS spectrum shows that ionized gas comes from WISE1029

By observing an active galaxy with a powerful outflow of ionized gas in ALMA, scientists were able to detect gaseous carbon monoxide (CO) in association with the galactic disk. In addition, they noticed that CO does not depend on the powerful outflow of ionized gas.

The popular scenario of the formation and evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes suggests that radiation from galactic centers can have a significant effect on molecular gas and stellar birth activity. But the ALMA results show that the outflow of ionized gas, activated by the movement of a supermassive black hole, does not necessarily affect the host galaxy. This makes the joint evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes more mysterious.

Modern astronomy has faced the difficult question: “How did the galaxies form and evolve in the period of the 13.8 billion universal history?”. Scientists have already shown that central supermassive holes are hidden in almost all large galaxies. Then they found out that the masses of black holes are closely related to the massiveness of galaxies. This correlation shows that both objects develop together, maintaining a close relationship. Recently, gas outflow, activated by supermassive black holes, has become the focus of attention, since it can play an important role in the joint evolution. But the researchers could not find a real connection between the activity of holes and the formation of stars. Therefore, they seek to observe a real picture of the contact of the nuclear outflow and the process of star birth.

To do this, we decided to consider a special kind of objects - Dust-Obscured Galaxy (DOG, Dusty Blackout Galaxy). They are distinguished by one feature - despite the extremely weak luminescence in visible light, they burn brightly in the IR range.

Scientists believe that DOG actively grow supermassive black holes. For example, WISE1029 acts as an outflow of gas ionized by the powerful radiation of a central hole. The excellent sensitivity of ALMA made it possible to carry out a detailed analysis. It turned out that there are no signs of a strong outflow of molecular gas. In addition, the activity of star birth is not suppressed and not activated. That is, the generally accepted concept was inoperative.

ALMA demonstrates the co-evolution of a black hole

Carbon monoxide (left) and cold dust (right) emission in WISE1029 in the ALMA review. Frame size - 3 square seconds It has been reported that the leakage of ionized gas created by the accretion of a supermassive black hole affects the surrounding molecular gas. But it also happens that there is no close contact between the ionized and molecular gas.

ALMA demonstrates the co-evolution of a black hole

Ionized gas outflow (green), activated by the movement of a supermassive black hole, does not affect star formation in the galaxy

This information only adds new questions to the topic of the joint evolution of supermassive black holes and host galaxies. Therefore, scientists will continue to observe observations.

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