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arXiv · 1609.05674

Exploring accretion disc physics and black hole growth with regular monitoring of ultrafast AGN winds

Ken Pounds·Andrew Lobban·Chris Nixon
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Abstract

15 years of XMM-Newton observations have established that ultra-fast, highly ionized winds are common in radio-quiet AGN. A simple theory of Eddington-limited accretion correctly predicts the typical velocity (~0.1c) and high ionization of such winds, with observed flow energy capable of ejecting star-forming gas. With a recent extended XMM-Newton observation of the archetypal UFO, PG1211+143, revealing a more complex flow pattern, we suggest that targetted observations over the next decade offer unique potential for probing the inner accretion disc structure and SMBH growth.

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Ken Pounds, Andrew Lobban, Chris Nixon. 2017-01-23. Exploring accretion disc physics and black hole growth with regular monitoring of ultrafast AGN winds. https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201713338

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