AGN feeding and feedback in Fornax A: kinematical analysis of the multi-phase ISM
Journal
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
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Morokuma-Matsui, K.
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Oosterloo, T. A.
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Onodera, M.
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Kamphuis, P.
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Thorat, K.
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Ramatsoku, M.
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Smirnov, O.
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White, S. V.
Abstract
We present a multi-wavelength study of the gaseous medium surrounding the nearby active galactic nucleus (AGN), Fornax A. Using MeerKAT, ALMA, and MUSE observations, we reveal a complex distribution of the atomic (H I), molecular (CO), and ionised gas in its centre and along the radio jets. By studying the multi-scale kinematics of the multi-phase gas, we reveal the presence of concurrent AGN feeding and feedback phenomena. Several clouds and an extended 3 kpc filament - perpendicular to the radio jets and the inner disk (r ≲ 4.5 kpc) - show highly-turbulent kinematics, which likely induces non-linear condensation and subsequent chaotic cold accretion (CCA) onto the AGN. In the wake of the radio jets and in an external (r ≳ 4.5 kpc) ring, we identify an entrained massive (∼10^7 M⊙) multi-phase outflow (vOUT ∼ 2000 km s^−1). The rapid flickering of the nuclear activity of Fornax A (∼3 Myr) and the gas experiencing turbulent condensation raining onto the AGN provide quantitative evidence that a recurrent, tight feeding and feedback cycle may be self-regulating the activity of Fornax A, in agreement with CCA simulations. To date, this is one of the most in-depth probes of such a mechanism, paving the way to apply these precise diagnostics to a larger sample of nearby AGN hosts and their multi-phase inter stellar medium.
Volume
656
Start page
A45
Issn Identifier
0004-6361
Rights
open.access
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