ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS OBSCURATION FROM WINDS: FROM DUSTY INFRARED-DRIVEN TO WARM AND X-RAY PHOTOIONIZED

Journal Article · Mon Dec 10 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/761/1/70· OSTI ID:22140025

Dorodnitsyn, A.; Kallman, T. ^[1]

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1. Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 662, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (United States)

We present calculations of active galactic nucleus winds at {approx}parsec scales along with the associated obscuration. We take into account the pressure of infrared radiation on dust grains and the interaction of X-rays from a central black hole with hot and cold plasma. Infrared radiation (IR) is incorporated in radiation-hydrodynamic simulations adopting the flux-limited diffusion approximation. We find that in the range of X-ray luminosities L = 0.05-0.6 L{sub Edd}, the Compton-thick part of the flow (aka torus) has an opening angle of approximately 72 Degree-Sign -75 Degree-Sign regardless of the luminosity. At L {approx}> 0.1, the outflowing dusty wind provides the obscuration with IR pressure playing a major role. The global flow consists of two phases: the cold flow at inclinations {theta} {approx}> 70 Degree-Sign and a hot, ionized wind of lower density at lower inclinations. The dynamical pressure of the hot wind is important in shaping the denser IR-supported flow. At luminosities {<=}0.1 L{sub Edd} episodes of outflow are followed by extended periods when the wind switches to slow accretion.

• OSTI ID: 22140025
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 761; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ACCELERATION
APPROXIMATIONS
ASTROPHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
COLD PLASMA
COSMIC DUST
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GAMMA ASTRONOMY
HYDRODYNAMICS
INFRARED RADIATION
LUMINOSITY
PHOTOIONIZATION
STAR ACCRETION
STELLAR WINDS
X RADIATION