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| Paper: |
Feeding the AGN with Backflows |
| Volume: |
427, Accretion and Ejection in AGN: a Global View |
| Page: |
343 |
| Authors: |
Antonuccio-Delogu, V.; Silk, J. |
| Abstract: |
We study the internal circulation within the cocoon carved out by a relativistic jet emanating from an AGN, first developing model and then validating it using a series of numerical simulations. We notice that a significant increase of circulation in this flow arises because gradients in the density and entropy develop near the hot spot, as a consequence of Crocco’s vorticity theorem. We find simple solutions for the streamlines, and we use them to predict the mass inflow rates towards the central regions. The 2D simulations we perform span a rather wide range of mechanical jet’s input power and Black Hole masses, and we show that the predicted nuclear mass inflows are in good agreement with the theoretical model.
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We thus suggest that these backflows could (at least partially) feed the AGN, and provide a self-regulatory mechanism of AGN activity, that is not directly controlled by, but possibly controls, the star formation rate within the central circumnuclear disk. |
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