Relativistic jet feedback III: feedback on gas disks

TL;DR

This study uses simulations to explore how relativistic jets interact with dense gas disks, revealing complex feedback effects that influence gas dynamics and star formation, with implications for observed galaxy features.

Contribution

The paper presents new simulation results detailing the diverse interactions between relativistic jets and gas disks, including effects on outflows, turbulence, and star formation.

Findings

Jets create cavities and outflows in the gas disk.

Jet-induced shocks increase velocity dispersion in the disk.

Jet feedback can both enhance and quench star formation.

Abstract

We study the interactions of a relativistic jet with a dense turbulent gaseous disk of radius $\sim 2$ kpc. We have performed a suite of simulations with different mean density, jet power and orientation. Our results show that: A) the relativistic jet couples strongly with the gas in the inner kpc, creating a cavity and launching outflows. B) The high pressure bubble inflated by the jet and its back-flow compresses the disk at the outer edges, driving inflows within the disk. C) Jets inclined towards the disk couple more strongly with the disk and launch sub-relativistic, wide-angle outflows along the minor axis. D) Shocks driven directly by the jet and the jet-driven energy bubble raise the velocity dispersion throughout the disk by several times its initial value. E) Compression by the jet-driven shocks can enhance the star formation rate in the disk, especially in a ring-like geometry close to the axis. However, enhanced turbulent dispersion in the disk also leads to quenching of star formation. Whether positive or negative feedback dominates depends on jet power, ISM density, jet orientation with respect to the disc, and the time-scale under consideration. Qualitatively, our simulations compare favourably with kinematic and morphological signatures of several observed galaxies such as NGC 1052, NGC 3079, 3C 326 and 3C 293.