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Questions and challenges of what powers galactic outflows in active galactic nuclei

Different mechanisms can drive outflows in active galactic nuclei (AGNs), but it is often unclear which mechanism dominates, if any. To quantify the impact of AGN feedback on galaxy evolution, the driving mechanism of outflows must be better understood.

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Fig. 1: Hydrodynamical simulation of an AGN-driven wide-angle outflow propagating perpendicular to the galaxy disk.

adapted from ref. 18, IOP

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Acknowledgements

We thank the organizers and the participants of the Lorentz Center workshop ‘The reality and myths of AGN feedback’ held in Leiden, 16–20 October 2017, for stimulating discussions that inspired the writing of this Comment. We also thank the Lorentz Center for their hospitality. R.M. gratefully acknowledges support from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013)/ERC Advanced Grant RADIOLIFE-320745.

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Wylezalek, D., Morganti, R. Questions and challenges of what powers galactic outflows in active galactic nuclei. Nat Astron 2, 181–182 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0409-0

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