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

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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 combined optical, infrared, submillimeter, and radio observations of the active galaxy VV 340a, which is hosting a low-power jet launched from a supermassive black hole at its center. We found that the jet undergoes precession, with a period of (8.2 ± 5.5) × 10 5 years, and drives an outflow of gas at a rate of 19.4 ± 7.9 solar masses per year. The jet shocks the gas, producing highly ionized plasma that extends several kiloparsecs from the nucleus. The outflow ejects sufficient gas from the galaxy to influence its star-formation rate.
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Funding Information
  • National Science Foundation (AST-2408820)
  • National Science Foundation (PHY-2210452)
  • National Science Foundation (AST-2009416)
  • National Science Foundation (2239807)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NSSC20K0450)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NSSC23K0750)
  • Space Telescope Science Institute (JWST-GO-01717.001-A)
  • Space Telescope Science Institute (HST-GO-17285.001-A)
  • Space Telescope Science Institute (HST-AR-17063.005-A)
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP21H01129)

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