arXiv · 2507.13665
The Double-Episode Jet Genesis of the eROSITA and Fermi Bubbles
Abstract
The Fermi and eROSITA bubbles are giant gamma-ray and X-ray lobes in the Milky Way, extending up to $\sim$50{\deg} and ~$\sim$80{\deg} in galactic latitude, respectively, yet their origins remain debated. Using three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations, we investigate a scenario in which two temporally separated episodes of active galactic nucleus (AGN) jets launched from the Galactic center produce the bubbles, with each structure bounded by a forward shock. Our simulations reveal that the first jet pair, launched 15 Myr ago, forms the outer eROSITA bubbles (extending to $\sim$18 kpc), while the second, launched 5 Myr ago, creates the nested Fermi bubbles ($\sim$10 kpc height). This model broadly reproduces the observed elongated morphology, multi-band X-ray surface brightness distribution, O VIII/O VII line ratios, radio ridge structures, and gamma-ray emissions of the bubbles. Cosmic-ray electrons are accelerated \textit{in situ} at the shock fronts, explaining the sharp edges and nearly uniform gamma-ray surface brightness distribution of Fermi bubbles. The results suggest that the eROSITA and Fermi bubbles encode a time-resolved record of episodic AGN activity in the Galactic center, providing a physically motivated framework for interpreting their multi-wavelength properties.
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Ruiyu Zhang, Fulai Guo, Shaokun Xie, Ruofei Zhang, Shumin Wang, Guobin Mou, Xiaodong Duan. 2025-07-18. The Double-Episode Jet Genesis of the eROSITA and Fermi Bubbles. https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.13665
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