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Abstract We  present new high-spectral-resolution observations (R=λ/Δλ= 7000) of the filamentary nebula surrounding NGC 1275, the central galaxy of the Perseus cluster. These observations have been obtained with SITELLE, an imaging Fourier transform spectrometer installed on the Canada–France–Hawai Telescope with a field of view of $11\prime \times 11\prime$, encapsulating the entire filamentary structure of ionized gas despite its large size of 80 kpc × 50 kpc. Here, we present renewed fluxes, velocities, and velocity dispersion maps that show in great detail the kinematics of the optical nebula at [Sii]λ6716, [Sii]λ6731, [Nii]λ6584, Hα(6563 Å), and [Nii]λ6548. These maps reveal the existence of a bright flattened disk-shaped structure in the core extending tor∼10 kpc and dominated by a chaotic velocity field. This structure is located in the wake of X-ray cavities and characterized by a high mean velocity dispersion of 134 km s⁻¹. The disk-shaped structure is surrounded by an extended array of filaments spread out tor∼ 50 kpc that are 10 times fainter in flux, remarkably quiescent, and have a uniform mean velocity dispersion of 44 km s⁻¹. This stability is puzzling given that the cluster core exhibits several energetic phenomena. Based on these results, we argue that there are two mechanisms that form multiphase gas in clusters of galaxies: a first triggered in the wake of X-ray cavities leading to more turbulent multiphase gas and a second, distinct mechanism, that is gentle and leads to large-scale multiphase gas spreading throughout the core. 

ABSTRACT The processes responsible for the assembly of cold and warm gas in early-type galaxies (ETGs) are not well understood. We report on the multiwavelength properties of 15 non-central, nearby (z ≤ 0.008 89) ETGs primarily through Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) and Chandra X-ray observations, to address the origin of their multiphase gas. The MUSE data reveal that 8/15 sources contain warm ionized gas traced by the H α emission line. The morphology of this gas is found to be filamentary in 3/8 sources: NGC 1266, NGC 4374, and NGC 4684, which is similar to that observed in many group and cluster-centred galaxies. All H α filamentary sources have X-ray luminosities exceeding the expected emission from the stellar population, suggesting the presence of diffuse hot gas, which likely cooled to form the cooler phases. The morphologies of the remaining 5/8 sources are rotating gas discs, not as commonly observed in higher mass systems. Chandra X-ray observations (when available) of the ETGs with rotating H α discs indicate that they are nearly void of hot gas. A mixture of stellar mass-loss and external accretion was likely the dominant channel for the cool gas in NGC 4526 and NGC 4710. These ETGs show full kinematic alignment between their stars and gas, and are fast rotators. The H α features within NGC 4191 (clumpy, potentially star-forming ring), NGC 4643, and NGC 5507 (extended structures) along with loosely overlapping stellar and gas populations allow us to attribute external accretion to be the primary formation channel of their cool gas. 

ABSTRACT We perform high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations using the framework of MACER to investigate supermassive black hole (SMBH) feeding and feedback in a massive compact galaxy, which has a small effective radius but a large stellar mass, with a simulation duration of 10 Gyr. We compare the results with a reference galaxy with a similar stellar mass but a less concentrated stellar density distribution, as typically found in local elliptical galaxies. We find that about 10 per cent of the time, the compact galaxy develops multiphase gas within a few kpc, but the accretion flow through the inner boundary below the Bondi radius is always a single phase. The inflow rate in the compact galaxy is several times larger than in the reference galaxy, mainly due to the higher gas density caused by the more compact stellar distribution. Such a higher inflow rate results in stronger SMBH feeding and feedback and a larger fountain-like inflow-outflow structure. Compared to the reference galaxy, the star formation rate in the compact galaxy is roughly two orders of magnitude higher but is still low enough to be considered quiescent. Over the whole evolution period, the black hole mass grows by ∼50 per cent in the compact galaxy, much larger than the value of ∼ 3 per cent in the reference galaxy. 

ABSTRACT When galaxies move through the intracluster medium (ICM) inside galaxy clusters, the ram pressure of the ICM can strip the gas from galaxies. The stripped gas forms tails on the trailing side. These galaxies are hence dubbed ‘jellyfish galaxies’. ESO 137-001 is a quintessential jellyfish galaxy located in the nearest rich cluster, the Norma cluster. Its spectacular multiphase tail has complex morphology and kinematics both from the imprinted galaxy’s interstellar medium (ISM) and as a result of the interactions between the stripped gas and the surrounding hot plasma, mediated by radiative cooling and magnetic fields. We study the kinematics of the multiphase tail using high-resolution observations of the ionized and the molecular gas in the entire structure. We calculate the velocity structure functions in moving frames along the tail and find that turbulence driven by Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instability quickly overwhelms the original ISM turbulence and saturates at ∼30 kpc. There is also a hint that the far end of the tail has possibly started to inherit pre-existing large-scale ICM turbulence likely caused by structure formation. Turbulence measured by the molecular gas is generally consistent with that measured by the ionized gas in the tail but has a slightly lower amplitude. Most of the measured turbulence is below the mean free path of the hot ICM (∼11 kpc). Using warm/cool gas as a tracer of the hot ICM, we find that the isotropic viscosity of the hot plasma must be suppressed below 0.01 per cent Spitzer level. 

Abstract The interstellar medium (ISM) is turbulent over vast scales and in various phases. In this paper, we study turbulence with different tracers in four nearby star-forming regions: Orion, Ophiuchus, Perseus, and Taurus. We combine the APOGEE-2 and Gaia surveys to obtain the full six-dimensional measurements of positions and velocities of young stars in these regions. The velocity structure functions (VSFs) of the stars show a universal scaling of turbulence. We also obtain Hαgas kinematics in these four regions from the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper. The VSFs of the Hαare more diverse compared to those of stars. In regions with recent supernova activities, they show characteristics of local energy injections and higher amplitudes compared to the VSFs of stars and of CO from the literature. Such difference in amplitude of the VSFs can be explained by the different energy and momentum transport from supernovae into different phases of the ISM, thus resulting in higher levels of turbulence in the warm ionized phase traced by Hα. In regions without recent supernova activities, the VSFs of young stars, Hα, and CO are generally consistent, indicating well-coupled turbulence between different phases. Within individual regions, the brighter parts of the Hαgas tend to have a higher level of turbulence than the low-emission parts. Our findings support a complex picture of the Milky Way ISM, where turbulence can be driven at different scales and inject energy unevenly into different phases. 

The intracluster medium (ICM) in the centers of galaxy clusters is heavily influenced by the “feedback” from supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Feedback can drive turbulence in the ICM and turbulent dissipation can potentially be an important source of heating. Due to the limited spatial and spectral resolutions of X-ray telescopes, direct observations of turbulence in the hot ICM have been challenging. Recently, we developed a new method to measure turbulence in the ICM using multiphase filaments as tracers. These filaments are ubiquitous in cluster centers and can be observed at very high resolution using optical and radio telescopes. We study the kinematics of the filaments by measuring their velocity structure functions (VSFs) over a wide range of scales in the centers of ∼ 10 galaxy clusters. We find features of the VSFs that correlate with the SMBHs activities, suggesting that SMBHs are the main driver of gas motions in the centers of galaxy clusters. In all systems, the VSF is steeper than the classical Kolmogorov expectation and the slopes vary from system to system. One theoretical explanation is that the VSFs we have measured so far mostly reflect the motion of the driver (jets and bubbles) rather than the cascade of turbulence. We show that in Abell 1795, the VSF of the outer filaments far from the SMBH flattens on small scales to a Kolmogorov slope, suggesting that the cascade is only detectable farther out with the current telescope resolution. The level of turbulent heating computed at small scales is typically an order of magnitude lower than that estimated at the driving scale. Even though SMBH feedback heavily influences the kinematics of the ICM in cluster centers, the level of turbulence it drives is rather low, and turbulent heating can only offset ≲ 10% of the cooling loss, consistent with the findings of numerical simulations. 

Abstract Active galactic nuclei (AGN) show a range of morphologies and dynamical properties, which are determined not only by parameters intrinsic to the central engine but also their interaction with the surrounding environment. We investigate the connection of kiloparsec scale AGN jet properties to their intrinsic parameters and surroundings. This is done using a suite of 40 relativistic hydrodynamic simulations spanning a wide range of engine luminosities and opening angles. We explore AGN jet propagation with different ambient density profiles, including r −2 (self-similar solution) and r −1 , which is more relevant for AGN host environments. While confirmation awaits future 3D studies, the Fanaroff–Riley (FR) morphological dichotomy arises naturally in our 2D models. Jets with low energy density compared to the ambient medium produce a center-brightened emissivity distribution, while emissivity from relatively higher energy density jets is dominated by the jet head. We observe recollimation shocks in our simulations that can generate bright spots along the spine of the jet, providing a possible explanation for “knots” observed in AGN jets. We additionally find a scaling relation between the number of knots and the jet-head-to-surroundings energy density ratio. This scaling relation is generally consistent with the observations of the jets in M87 and Cygnus A. Our model also correctly predicts M87 as FRI and Cygnus A as FRII. Our model can be used to relate jet dynamical parameters such as jet head velocity, jet opening angle, and external pressure to jet power, and ambient density estimates.