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Abstract / Description of output
Radio-mode feedback is a key ingredient in galaxy formation and
evolution models, required to reproduce the observed properties of
massive galaxies in the local Universe. We study the cosmic evolution of
radio-AGN feedback out to z ∼ 2.5 using a sample of 9485
radio-excess AGN. We combine the evolving radio luminosity functions
with a radio luminosity scaling relationship to estimate AGN jet kinetic
powers and derive the cosmic evolution of the kinetic luminosity
density, Ωkin (i.e. the volume-averaged heating output).
Compared to all radio-AGN, low-excitation radio galaxies (LERGs)
dominate the feedback activity out to z ∼ 2.5, with both these populations showing a constant heating output of Ωkin≈4−5×1032WMpc−3 across 0.5 < z
< 2.5. We compare our observations to predictions from
semi-analytical and hydrodynamical simulations, which broadly match the
observed evolution in Ωkin, although their absolute normalisation varies. Comparison to the Semi-Analytic Galaxy Evolution (sage)
model suggests that radio-AGN may provide sufficient heating to offset
radiative cooling losses, providing evidence for a self-regulated AGN
feedback cycle. We integrate the kinetic luminosity density across
cosmic time to obtain the kinetic energy density output from AGN jets
throughout cosmic history to be ∼1050JMpc−3. Compared to AGN winds, the kinetic energy density from AGN jets dominates the energy budget at z ≲ 2; this suggests that AGN jets play an important role in AGN feedback across most of cosmic history.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 5292-5305 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
Volume | 523 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 16 Jun 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2023 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- galaxies: active
- galaxies: evolution
- galaxies: jets
- radio continuum: galaxies
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