Resolving supermassive black hole feeding and feedback: multiphase flows down to sub-parsec


Abstract

Mass accretion is a fundamental process for the growth of supermassive black holes and activating the central engine. However, detailed accretion properties have not been observationally identified at the central ~10 parsec of active galaxies due to its compactness. Here we for the first time ever report the direct detection of parsec-scale (i.e., 0.01% scale of the host galaxy) dense molecular inflow in the active nucleus of the Circinus galaxy. Only a tiny portion (< 3%) of this inflow is consumed in the actual black hole growth but a bulk portion is blown-out by multiphase outflows. We also identified the parsec-scale root part of ionized outflows by using submillimeter hydrogen recombination line, which can be a powerful probe of AGN-driven feedback in the next decade. The circumnuclear dense gas disk is gravitationally unstable and drives accretion down to the central ~1 parsec, but another process (e.g., magnetohydrodynamic turbulence) might be required for the final subparsec-scale accretion.


Speaker: 
Takuma Izumi (Tokyo Metropolitan Univ. / NAOJ)
Place: 
Zoom Meeting ID: 822 8287 7472 , Passcode: astroPKU , Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82282877472?pwd=VXFOYmtaRUhZMVplYWp1OFQ4OGsvQT09
Time: 
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - 1:30PM to Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - 2:00PM