Abstract
In order to reproduce observational data, current cosmologies require some mechanism to suppress star formation in massive galaxies at the current epoch; this is usually accomplished by some form of energy “feedback” into the gas around galaxies. This review considers “radio AGN feedback.” Emphasis is on physical processes that could mediate the energy transfer from the AGN outflow to the surrounding gas, thus heating it and suppressing star formation. The state of radio AGN feedback in rich clusters is discussed, and it is concluded that the heating of the ICM by radio AGN on the required temporal and spatial scales is still not well established. The more general case of radio AGN feedback in small groups, clusters, and field galaxies is considered, and in this case it is argued that the AGN outflow can develop into fully turbulent jets. The decay of this turbulence into heat could provide the desired feedback, though issues of the spatial distribution of this energy transfer are still unresolved.
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