Can supermassive black holes suppress star formation in nearby dwarf galaxies? (Dark Cosmology Center)

Recent observations of local, isolated dwarf galaxies find hints for active galactic nuclei activity in terms of their emission line ratios, potentially suggesting that star formation in these galaxies was quenched due to feedback from the central supermassive black hole. We take advantage of the state-of-the-art cosmological simulation IllustrisTNG as well as synthetic emission-line models, with a particular focus on isolated dwarf galaxies in the local Universe to investigate possible origin of AGN-like emission-line ratios in isolated quenched dwarfs.

ADS Abstract • Conference Talk • Chambliss Poster

How do some massive galaxies stop forming stars so early in cosmic time? (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

We find that active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback is the primary cause of halting star formation in early, massive galaxies. Not only do the central, supermassive black holes (SMBHs) of the quenched galaxies have earlier seed times, but they also grow faster than in star-forming galaxies. As a result, the quenched galaxies are exposed to AGN feedback for longer, and experience the kinetic mode of the AGN feedback earlier than the star-forming galaxies. The large-scale environment can mildly affect the fate of the SMBH.

ADS Abstract • arXiv Preprint • Published in MNRAS

Is there a link between supermassive black holes and the cosmic environment? (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)

Jellyfish galaxies are an extreme example of how galaxies can transform due to residing in dense cluster cosmological environments. These satellite galaxies are strongly affected by ram-pressure stripping, leading to the formation of their gaseous tails. However, a significant number of jellyfish galaxies are also hosts of active galactic nuclei (AGN). We use the IllustrisTNG simulations to explore the presence of AGN in the origin of jellyfish galaxies from the “Zooniverse Cosmological Jellyfish” citizen-science project.

STRUCTURES Blog Post • Conference Poster