Relativistic jet feedback II: Relationship to gigahertz peak spectrum and compact steep spectrum radio galaxies

TL;DR

This paper models relativistic jet interactions with inhomogeneous gas in galaxies to explain GPS and CSS radio source spectra, revealing how these sources reflect the properties of the host galaxy's interstellar medium.

Contribution

It introduces a new computational model for free-free absorption in jet feedback simulations, replacing previous power-law models with a disrupted log-normal gas distribution, and links spectral features to galaxy gas properties.

Findings

Free-free absorption explains GHz peak frequencies.

Spectral flattening over time suggests young sources.

Peak frequency correlates with ISM density.

Abstract

We propose that Gigahertz Peak Spectrum (GPS) and Compact Steep Spectrum (CSS) radio sources are the signposts of relativistic jet feedback in evolving galaxies. Our simulations of relativistic jets interacting with a warm, inhomogeneous medium, utilize cloud densities and velocity dispersions in the range derived from optical observations, show that free-free absorption can account for the $\sim \rm GHz$ peak frequencies and low frequency power laws inferred from the radio observations. These new computational models replace the power-law model for the free-free optical depth in the \citep{bicknell97a} model by a more fundamental model involving disrupted log-normal distributions of warm gas. One feature of our new models is that at early stages, the low frequency spectrum is steep but progressively flattens as a result of a broader distribution of optical depths, suggesting that the steep low frequency spectra discovered by \citet{callingham17a} may possibly be attributed to young sources. We also investigate the inverse correlation between peak frequency and size and find that the initial location on this correlation is determined by the average density of the warm ISM. The simulated sources track this correlation initially but eventually fall below it, indicating the need for a more extended ISM than presently modelled. GPS and CSS sources can potentially provide new insights into the phenomenon of AGN feedback since their peak frequencies and spectra are indicative of the density, turbulent structure and distribution of gas in the host galaxy.