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Insights into the Active Galaxy J1406+0102

A look at the unique features of the galaxy J1406+0102 and its black hole.

― 5 min read


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In the vast universe, there exist galaxies that are hard to see because they are covered in dust. One type of these galaxies is called a Dust Obscured Galaxy, or DOG for short. Some of these DOGs are radio-loud, which means they emit strong radio waves. Understanding these galaxies helps scientists learn about how black holes grow and the energy processes happening in the universe.

What are Super-Eddington Accretion Systems?

A super-Eddington accretion system is a situation where a black hole pulls in more matter than what would usually be expected. This process can happen in galaxies where there is a lot of gas and dust. When a black hole consumes material at this high rate, it can create powerful Outflows and jets that eject energy into space, often observed in radio wavelengths.

Finding J1406+0102

Recently, researchers discovered a specific DOG called J1406+0102. This galaxy was found through a careful combination of data from different astronomical surveys. J1406+0102 shows strong signs of being a super-Eddington accreting system due to its bright radio emissions and particular features in its visible light spectrum.

Characteristics of J1406+0102

J1406+0102 has broad emission lines in its light spectrum, indicating that it has a strong active region where a black hole is feeding. Using these lines, scientists estimate the black hole's mass and the brightness of its active galactic nucleus (AGN). Importantly, the research suggests that the galaxy produces strong outflows, which can influence the growth and evolution of the host galaxy.

AGN Feedback

Observations show that J1406+0102 has strong feedback from its AGN, evidenced by a fast-moving outflow of ionized gas. This outflow moves quicker than the escape velocity of the galaxy itself, suggesting that the energy being released can significantly affect the surrounding environment. This feedback can play a key role in shaping star formation and the overall structure of the galaxy.

The Growth of Black Holes

Black holes are thought to grow by consuming nearby material, and this super-Eddington phase is essential for their development. The conditions in J1406+0102 suggest that it is in a strong growth phase. The observed black hole mass and host galaxy mass indicate that they may grow over time, exceeding typical values expected based on current understanding.

Importance of Radio Emissions

J1406+0102 shows bright radio emissions, which can come from several sources. These include star formation, jets produced by the black hole, or shocks created by fast-moving outflows. The presence of radio emissions is significant as they can signal the activity level of the black hole as it consumes material.

Star Formation and Radio Emission

Star formation in galaxies can lead to radio emissions, but for J1406+0102, the observed radio brightness suggests that the black hole's activity is the more dominant source. Estimates indicate that star formation alone cannot account for most of the radio emissions, pointing towards the role of the AGN.

Radio Jets and Outflows

Theoretical models suggest that black holes undergoing super-Eddington accretion can produce powerful jets. These jets are streams of particles accelerated to high speeds. The size and properties of the observed radio emissions support the idea that J1406+0102 is likely generating jets during its active phase.

The Effect of Outflows

Outflows from J1406+0102 have been measured and show that they carry significant energy. The outflows help to disperse material within the host galaxy and can affect star formation. The energy injected into the interstellar medium can alter how stars form in the surrounding areas, highlighting the feedback effect of super-Eddington accretion.

Future Growth of J1406+0102

As J1406+0102 continues to accrete material, its future growth trajectory suggests it could become one of the more massive black holes. Projections indicate the black hole and the host galaxy are likely to grow together, potentially leading to an even more massive galaxy in the future. This is important because studying such growth helps scientists understand the evolution of galaxies over cosmic time.

Contribution to Cosmic Neutrinos

There is also interest in the role of J1406+0102 in producing cosmic neutrinos. Cosmic neutrinos are elusive particles that pass through matter almost undetected. They are produced in high-energy events in the universe, such as those occurring in active galaxies. The jets and high-energy outflows from galaxies like J1406+0102 can potentially contribute to the cosmic neutrino background.

Neutrino Production Mechanism

The relationship between energetic processes in J1406+0102 and neutrino production is still being explored. The assumption is that as cosmic rays are accelerated in the jets, they can interact with the surrounding material, producing neutrinos. Understanding this connection helps build a picture of how matter and energy are transferred in high-energy astrophysical environments.

Conclusion

The study of radio-loud dust-obscured galaxies like J1406+0102 provides valuable insights into the nature of black holes and galaxy formation. The processes observed within such galaxies help scientists piece together the complex interactions between black holes, their host galaxies, and the surrounding universe. As research continues, the significance of these findings will likely enhance our understanding of cosmic evolution and the powerful forces at play in the universe.

Original Source

Title: J1406+0102: Dust Obscured Galaxy Hiding Super Eddington Accretion System with Bright Radio Emission

Abstract: Recent high-$z$ quasar observations strongly indicate that super-Eddington accretion is a crucial phase to describe the existence of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) with $M_\mathrm{BH} \gtrsim 10^9 M_\odot$ at $z \gtrsim 7$. Motivated by the theoretical suggestion that the super-Eddington phase efficiently produces outflows and jets bright in radio bands, we search and find a super-Eddington radio-loud dust-obscured galaxy (DOG) J1406+0102 at $z=0.236$, through cross-matching of the infrared-bright DOGs of Noboriguchi et al. (2019) with the VLA/FIRST 1.4 GHz radio and the SDSS optical spectral catalog. DOG J1406+0102 shows broad components in the Balmer lines. Assuming those lines are from the broad line region, it gives BH mass estimation of $\log\ (M_\mathrm{BH}/M_\odot)=7.30 \pm 0.25$, and AGN luminosity of $\log (L_\mathrm{bol,[OIII]}/\mathrm{erg}~\mathrm{s}^{-1}) = 45.91\pm0.38$ estimated from the intrinsic [OIII] luminosity, resulting in super-Eddington accretion of $\lambda_\mathrm{Edd}\simeq 3$. We show that 1) DOG J1406+0102 is operating strong AGN feedback: the [OIII] outflow velocity exceeds the escape velocity of the host galaxy halo and the kinetic efficiency is obtained as $\approx$ 8% that can be sufficient to quench the host galaxy, 2) the expected future growth pathway of DOG J1406+0102 would join an over-massive BH trajectory and 3) radio-loud DOGs can provide a significant contribution to the high-energy ($\gtrsim$ 100 TeV) cosmic neutrino background if we assume DOG J1406+0102 as a representative of radio-loud DOGs.

Authors: Hikaru Fukuchi, Kohei Ichikawa, Masayuki Akiyama, Shigeo Kimura, Yoshiki Toba, Kohei Inayoshi, Akatoki Noboriguchi, Toshihiro Kawaguchi, Xiaoyang Chen, Itsna K. Fitriana

Last Update: 2023-03-09 00:00:00

Language: English

Source URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.05605

Source PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2303.05605

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Changes: This summary was created with assistance from AI and may have inaccuracies. For accurate information, please refer to the original source documents linked here.

Thank you to arxiv for use of its open access interoperability.

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