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Radiative Feedback from Quasars and the Growth of Supermassive Black Holes

S. Yu. Sazonov·J. P. Ostriker·L. Ciotti·R. A. Sunyaev
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Abstract

We discuss the role of feedback via photoionization and Compton heating in the co-evolution of massive black holes at the center of spheroidal galaxies and their stellar and gaseous components. We first assess the energetics of the radiative feedback from a typical quasar on the ambient interstellar gas. We then demonstrate that the observed Mbh-sigma relation could be established at a relatively early epoch in galactic evolution when the formation of the stellar bulge was almost completed and the gas-to-stars mass ratio was reduced to a low level ~0.01 such that cooling could not keep up with radiative heating. A considerable amount of gas was expelled at that time and black hole accretion proceeded at a much lower rate thereafter.

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S. Yu. Sazonov, J. P. Ostriker, L. Ciotti, R. A. Sunyaev. 2004-11-02. Radiative Feedback from Quasars and the Growth of Supermassive Black Holes. https://doi.org/10.1007/11403913_73

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