The suppression of star formation by powerful active galactic nuclei.

Average star formation rates, (SFR), derived from averaged far-infrared luminosities of 1<z<3 AGNs, as a function of suLX.
Average star formation rates, (SFR), derived from averaged far-infrared luminosities of 1<z<3 AGNs, as a function of suLX.
Advertised on
References
2012, Natur.,485,213

The old, red stars that constitute the bulges of galaxies, and the massive black holes at their centres, are the relics of a period in cosmic history when galaxies formed stars at remarkable rates and active galactic nuclei (AGN) shone brightly as a result of accretion onto black holes. It is widely suspected, but unproved, that the tight correlation between the mass of the black hole and the mass of the stellar bulge results from the AGN quenching the surrounding star formation as it approaches its peak luminosity. X-rays trace emission from AGN unambiguously, whereas powerful star-forming galaxies are usually dust-obscured and are brightest at infrared and submillimetre wavelengths. Here we report submillimetre and X-ray observations that show that rapid star formation was common in the host galaxies of AGN when the Universe was 2-6 billion years old, but that the most vigorous star formation is not observed around black holes above an X-ray luminosity of 1044 ergs per second. This suppression of star formation in the host galaxy of a powerful AGN is a key prediction of models in which the AGN drives an outflow, expelling the interstellar medium of its host and transforming the galaxy's properties in a brief period of cosmic time.

News type
Research news

It may interest you

  • dm_fig1
    Research news
    The slow expansion of dark matter halos from cusp to core naturally produces extended stellar core-like distributions
    Only a handful of observations truly constrain the nature of dark matter, which is why dozens of different physical models are still viable. Several of the most popular alternatives predict that dark matter halos slowly “thermalize” over time, gradually changing shape and expanding until they form a central region of nearly constant density -- a core. This transformation would not occur if the dark matter particles were completely collision-less, as assumed in the standard model. Therefore, the presence or absence of such a core provides a powerful way to distinguish between the standard
    Advertised on
  • wise_methane
    Research news
    Detection of Methane in the Closest Extreme Metal-poor T Dwarf
    WISEA J181006.18-101000.5 (WISE1810) is the nearest metal-poor ultracool dwarf to the Sun. It has a low effective temperature and has been classified as an extreme early-T subdwarf. However, methane--the characteristic molecule of the spectral class T--was not detected in the previous low-resolution spectrum. Constraining the metallicity--the abundance of elements heavier than helium-- of these cold objects has been a challenge. Using the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias, the largest optical-infrared telescope in the world, we collected a high-quality near-infrared intermediate-resolution
    Advertised on
  • figura_afm_press
    Research news
    Signs of 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' star formation in low-surface-brightness globular-cluster-rich dwarf galaxies
    Ultra-diffuse galaxies, an extreme type of dwarf galaxy, have been the focus of extensive observational and theoretical studies over the past decade. With stellar masses comparable to dwarf galaxies (between 10 7 and 10 9 solar masses) but much larger in size (as defined by their effective radius), they exhibit an extremely low surface brightness. These galaxies display highly diverse properties: some have large dark matter halos, others lack them, and their number of globular clusters varies widely. Studies of their kinematics and stellar populations have shown that these extreme galaxies
    Advertised on