Open AccessRadiative pressure feedback by a quasar in a galactic bulge
Author(s) -
Fabian A. C.,
Celotti A.,
Erlund M. C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society: letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.067
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1745-3933
pISSN - 1745-3925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-3933.2006.00234.x
Subject(s) - bulge , quasar , physics , galaxy , astrophysics , radiative transfer , eddington luminosity , radiation pressure , ionization , active galactic nucleus , radiation , gas pressure , optics , geology , ion , quantum mechanics , petroleum engineering
We show that Eddington‐limited black hole luminosities can be sufficient to deplete a galaxy bulge of gas through radiation pressure, when the ionization state of the gas and the presence of dust are properly taken into account. Once feedback starts to be effective it can consistently drive all the gas out of the whole galaxy. We estimate the amount by which the effect of radiation pressure on dusty gas boosts the mass involved in the Eddington limit, and discuss the expected column density at which the gas is ejected. An example is shown of the predicted observed nuclear spectrum of the system at the end of an early, obscured phase of growth when the remaining column density N H ∼ 10 24 f cm −2 , where f is the gas fraction in the bulge.