Solving the cooling flow problem with combined jet-wind AGN feedback

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Authors: Aoyun He, Feng Yuan, Suoqing Ji, Minhang Guo, Yuan Li, Haiguang Xu, Ming Sun, Haojie 浩杰 Xia 夏, Yuanyuan Zhao
Cited by: 1
References: 78

Abstract

Active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback is widely viewed as the most promising solution to the long-standing cooling flow problem in galaxy clusters, yet previous models prescribe jet properties inconsistent with accretion physics. We perform an idealized hydrodynamic simulation of a galaxy cluster with no merger history and a relaxed state, with its other properties similar to the Perseus cluster using the MACER framework, incorporating both jets and winds whose properties are constrained by general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of black hole accretion and observations. The combined feedback reproduces key observables, including cold gas mass, star formation rate, thermodynamic radial profiles, and black hole growth, while jet-only or wind-only models fail. The success arises from turbulence driven by jet-wind shear that enhances kinetic-to-thermal energy conversion, boosting heating efficiency by factors of 3 and 6 relative to wind-only and jet-only cases, respectively.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations Galaxies: Formation Evolution Phenomena Astronomy and Astrophysical Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Science Advances
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Volume
12
Issue
27
Pages
eaed6394–eaed6394
Publication date
3 July 2026
Language
EN