Black hole growth, Flashcards
what is black hole feedback?
Black hole feedback refers to the process by which energy released from the accretion of matter onto a supermassive black hole influences the surrounding environment, such as the galaxy in which the black hole resides. This feedback mechanism can take different forms, including thermal feedback associated with higher accretion rates and kinetic feedback associated with lower accretion rates. The energy injected by black holes can impact the galactic atmosphere, regulate star formation, and influence the overall evolution of galaxies.
What is Baryon lifting?
Baryon lifting refers to the process by which energy injected by a central black hole into the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of a galaxy increases the entropy and cooling time of the gas, effectively lifting the entire atmosphere of the galaxy
What is circum Galactic Medium and what is its significance?
The gas surrounding galaxies outside their disks or interstellar medium and inside their virial radii is known as the circumgalactic medium (CGM).
The CGM is a source of a galaxy’s star-forming fuel, the venue for galactic feedback and recycling, and perhaps the key regulator of the galactic gas supply.
What is the importance of Baryon lifting?
This process is believed to be necessary for the long-term quenching of star formation in galaxies, as it limits the supply of cold gas needed for star formation
What is quenching? What are the factors affecting it?
Star formation quenching refers to the process by which the formation of new stars in a galaxy is suppressed or halted.
This can occur due to various factors such as feedback from supermassive black holes, depletion of gas reservoirs, or environmental influences
Why is quenching essential to understand?
Quenching is essential for understanding the evolution of galaxies, as it plays a crucial role in regulating the growth and properties of galaxies over cosmic time.
What is Cosmological Halos?
Spherical regions of matter that surround galaxies and contain dark matter, gas, and stars
What is Kinetic Energy Input?
The amount of energy injected by a central black hole into the circumgalactic gas, which is necessary for long-term quenching of star formation
What is Thermal-Mode Feedback:?
A mode of feedback in which energy is released in pulses to limit radiative losses of the injected feedback energy, coupling more efficiently with the circumgalactic medium
What is Eddington Luminosity:?
The maximum luminosity that a source of radiation can achieve when the outward force due to radiation pressure is balanced by the inward gravitational force.
What is the Binding Energy of Baryons:?
The energy required to disperse the baryons in a galaxy’s halo, is crucial for understanding the quenching of star formation.
What is a Halo Gas Fraction?
The fraction of gas present in a galaxy’s halo, which can be influenced by feedback processes
What is Thermal Feedback?
A mode of feedback in which energy is released thermally to regulate the properties of the surrounding gas and influence star formation.
What is Kinetic Feedback?
A mode of feedback in which energy is released in the form of kinetic energy to influence the surrounding gas and regulate star formation.
What is Central Entropy?
The measure of disorder or randomness in the central region of a galaxy which can be influenced by feedback processes.