The role of SN-driven turbulence on the formation of outflows, inflows and cooling flows: from Galaxies to Clusters of Galaxies

Abstract

AbstractStar forming galaxies often exhibit hot halos with structures that resemble chimneys and fountains extending for several kpc above the galaxy. Observations indicate that they are probably produced by supernovae (SNe) which blow superbubbles that carve holes in the disk. Through these holes, high speed material is injected and expands buoyantly up to a maximum height and then returns to the disk pulled by the galaxy gravity. This circulating gas in a fountain tends to condense out forming high-velocity clouds and filaments. Starburst galaxies also show evidence that the spectacular winds that arise from their disk are fed by SNe explosions. Similarly, at galaxy cluster scales, most massive clusters exhibit rich filamentary structure of ionized gas which is distributed all around the central galaxy. We discuss here the role that SNe bubbles play in driving outflows and filamentary structures both at galaxy and galaxy-cluster scales. With the help of HD and MHD numerical simulations, we show in particular that SN-driven turbulence may play a key role at helping a central AGN halting and ”isotropize” the cooling flow in the central regions of a galaxy cluster.