Outflows, Bubbles, and the Role of the Radio Jet: Direct Evidence for AGN Feedback at z~2
Abstract
To accommodate the seemingly "anti-hierarchical" properties of galaxies near the upper end of the mass function within our hierarchical paradigm, current models of galaxy evolution postulate a phase of vigorous AGN feedback at high redshift, which effectively terminates star formation by quenching the supply of cold gas. Using the SINFONI IFU on the VLT, we identified kpc-sized outflows of ionized gas in z~2-3 radio galaxies, which have the expected signatures of being powerful AGN-driven winds with the potential of terminating star formation in the massive host galaxies. The bipolar outflows contain up to few x 1010 Msun in ionized gas with velocities near the escape velocity of a massive galaxy. Kinetic energies are equivalent to ~0.2% of the rest mass of the supermassive black hole. We discuss the results of this on-going study and the global impact of the observed outflows.