Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster
We report new ALMA observations of the CO(3-2) line emission from the 2.1 +/- 0.3*10(10)M(circle dot). molecular gas reservoir in the central galaxy of the Phoenix cluster. The cold molecular gas is fueling a vigorous starburst at a rate of 500-800M(circle dot)yr(-1) and powerful black hole activity...
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ndltd-arizona.edu-oai-arizona.openrepository.com-10150-6232412017-04-26T03:00:35Z Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster Russell, H. R. McDonald, M. McNamara, B. R. Fabian, A. C. Nulsen, P. E. J. Bayliss, M. B. Benson, B. A. Brodwin, M. Carlstrom, J. E. Edge, A. C. Hlavacek-Larrondo, J. Marrone, D. P. Reichardt, C. L. Vieira, J. D. Univ Arizona, Steward Observ galaxies: active galaxies: clusters individual (Phoenix) radio lines: galaxies We report new ALMA observations of the CO(3-2) line emission from the 2.1 +/- 0.3*10(10)M(circle dot). molecular gas reservoir in the central galaxy of the Phoenix cluster. The cold molecular gas is fueling a vigorous starburst at a rate of 500-800M(circle dot)yr(-1) and powerful black hole activity in the forms of both intense quasar radiation and radio jets. The radio jets have inflated huge bubbles filled with relativistic plasma into the hot, X-ray atmospheres surrounding the host galaxy. The ALMA observations show that extended filaments of molecular gas, each 10-20 kpc long with a mass of several billion solar masses, are located along the peripheries of the radio bubbles. The smooth velocity gradients and narrow line widths along each filament reveal massive, ordered molecular gas flows around each bubble, which are inconsistent with gravitational free-fall. The molecular clouds have been lifted directly by the radio bubbles, or formed via thermal instabilities induced in low-entropy gas lifted in the updraft of the bubbles. These new data provide compelling evidence for close coupling between the radio bubbles and the cold gas, which is essential to explain the self-regulation of feedback. The very feedback mechanism that heats hot atmospheres and suppresses star formation may also paradoxically stimulate production of the cold gas required to sustain feedback in massive galaxies. 2017-02-14 Article Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster 2017, 836 (1):130 The Astrophysical Journal 1538-4357 10.3847/1538-4357/836/1/130 http://hdl.handle.net/10150/623241 http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/623241 The Astrophysical Journal en http://stacks.iop.org/0004-637X/836/i=1/a=130?key=crossref.9b607efeb18bd269b55e1442960aedc1 © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. IOP PUBLISHING LTD |
collection |
NDLTD |
language |
en |
sources |
NDLTD |
topic |
galaxies: active galaxies: clusters individual (Phoenix) radio lines: galaxies |
spellingShingle |
galaxies: active galaxies: clusters individual (Phoenix) radio lines: galaxies Russell, H. R. McDonald, M. McNamara, B. R. Fabian, A. C. Nulsen, P. E. J. Bayliss, M. B. Benson, B. A. Brodwin, M. Carlstrom, J. E. Edge, A. C. Hlavacek-Larrondo, J. Marrone, D. P. Reichardt, C. L. Vieira, J. D. Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster |
description |
We report new ALMA observations of the CO(3-2) line emission from the 2.1 +/- 0.3*10(10)M(circle dot). molecular gas reservoir in the central galaxy of the Phoenix cluster. The cold molecular gas is fueling a vigorous starburst at a rate of 500-800M(circle dot)yr(-1) and powerful black hole activity in the forms of both intense quasar radiation and radio jets. The radio jets have inflated huge bubbles filled with relativistic plasma into the hot, X-ray atmospheres surrounding the host galaxy. The ALMA observations show that extended filaments of molecular gas, each 10-20 kpc long with a mass of several billion solar masses, are located along the peripheries of the radio bubbles. The smooth velocity gradients and narrow line widths along each filament reveal massive, ordered molecular gas flows around each bubble, which are inconsistent with gravitational free-fall. The molecular clouds have been lifted directly by the radio bubbles, or formed via thermal instabilities induced in low-entropy gas lifted in the updraft of the bubbles. These new data provide compelling evidence for close coupling between the radio bubbles and the cold gas, which is essential to explain the self-regulation of feedback. The very feedback mechanism that heats hot atmospheres and suppresses star formation may also paradoxically stimulate production of the cold gas required to sustain feedback in massive galaxies. |
author2 |
Univ Arizona, Steward Observ |
author_facet |
Univ Arizona, Steward Observ Russell, H. R. McDonald, M. McNamara, B. R. Fabian, A. C. Nulsen, P. E. J. Bayliss, M. B. Benson, B. A. Brodwin, M. Carlstrom, J. E. Edge, A. C. Hlavacek-Larrondo, J. Marrone, D. P. Reichardt, C. L. Vieira, J. D. |
author |
Russell, H. R. McDonald, M. McNamara, B. R. Fabian, A. C. Nulsen, P. E. J. Bayliss, M. B. Benson, B. A. Brodwin, M. Carlstrom, J. E. Edge, A. C. Hlavacek-Larrondo, J. Marrone, D. P. Reichardt, C. L. Vieira, J. D. |
author_sort |
Russell, H. R. |
title |
Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster |
title_short |
Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster |
title_full |
Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster |
title_fullStr |
Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster |
title_full_unstemmed |
Alma Observations of Massive Molecular Gas Filaments Encasing Radio Bubbles in the Phoenix Cluster |
title_sort |
alma observations of massive molecular gas filaments encasing radio bubbles in the phoenix cluster |
publisher |
IOP PUBLISHING LTD |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10150/623241 http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/623241 |
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