BALQSO spectra explained by shock disruption of galactic clouds

Meir Zeilig-Hess*, Amir Levinson, Xinfeng Xu, Nahum Arav

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Blue-shifted broad absorption lines (BALs) detected in quasar’s spectra are indicative of active galactic nuclei (AGN) outflows. We show, using 2D hydrodynamical simulations, that disruption of interstellar clouds by a fast AGN wind can lead to formation of cold, dense high-speed blobs that give rise to broad absorption features in the transmission spectrum of the AGN continuum source. For a wind velocity of 0.1c and sufficiently high cloud density (nc 104 cm−3; depending on size), absorption troughs with velocities up to about 3000 km s−1can be produced. For slower winds and/or lower cloud density, the anticipated velocity of the absorbing clouds should be smaller.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4325-4333
Number of pages9
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume491
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationADAP 48020
NASA STScI14054, 14176, 14242, GO 14777
Israel Science Foundation1114/17

    Keywords

    • Galaxies: active
    • ISM: clouds
    • ISM: jets and outflows
    • Quasars: absorption lines

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