A precessing jet from an active galactic nucleus drives gas outflow from a disk galaxy

TL;DR

This study observes a precessing jet from an active galactic nucleus that drives a significant gas outflow, impacting star formation in its host galaxy, with implications for galaxy evolution models.

Contribution

It provides detailed observational evidence of a precessing jet influencing gas dynamics and star formation in a galaxy, a process previously not well constrained.

Findings

Jet precession period of approximately 8.2 x 10^5 years.

Gas outflow rate of about 19.4 solar masses per year.

Jet-driven shocks produce extended ionized plasma.

Abstract

To reproduce observed galaxy properties, cosmological simulations require that massive galaxies experience feedback from active galactic nuclei, which regulates star formation within those galaxies. However, the energetics and timescales of these feedback processes are poorly constrained. We combine optical, infrared, sub-millimeter and radio observations of the active galaxy VV 340a, hosting a low-power jet launched from a supermassive black hole at its center. We find that the jet undergoes precession, with a period of (8.2 $\pm~$5.5) $\times~$10$^5$ years, and drives an outflow of gas at a rate of 19.4 $\pm~$7.9 solar masses per year. The jet shocks the gas, producing highly ionized plasma extending several kiloparsecs from the nucleus. The outflow ejects sufficient gas from the galaxy to influence its star formation rate.