2017/08/23 by William G. Mathews, J. Xavier Prochaska, J. X. Prochaska · 45 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Accretion (finance) #Astronomy #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Intergalactic travel #Physics #Quasar #Redshift #Star formation #Supernova #astro-ph.GA
paper · pdf · doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa8861
published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters 846(2), L24 (IOP Publishing) · 5 pages, 4 figures; Accepted to ApJL
arxiv created 2017/08/23 · openalex publication_date 2017/09/06 · arxiv updated 2017/09/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract O vi absorption in quasar spectra caused by intervening circumgalactic atmospheres suggests a downturn in the atmospheric column density in sightlines passing beyond about 100 kpc from central star-forming galaxies. This turnover supports the hypothesis that the oxygen originates in the central galaxies. When converted into oxygen space density using an Abel integral inversion, the O vi columns require M ⊙ of oxygen concentrated near 100 kpc. Circumgalactic gas within this radius cools in less than 1 Gyr and radiates erg s −1 overall. The feedback power necessary to maintain such oxygen-rich atmospheres for many Gyr cannot be easily supplied by galactic supernovae. However, massive central black holes in star-forming galaxies may generate sufficient accretion power and intermittent shock waves at to balance circumgalactic radiation losses in late-type galaxies. The relative absence of O vi absorption observed in early-type, passive galaxies may arise from enhanced AGN feedback from their more massive central black holes.