Qwind code release. A non-hydrodynamical approach to modelling line-driven winds in active galactic nuclei

Elvis, Martin; Risaliti, Guido; McDowell, Jonathan C; Lacey, Cedric; Done, Chris; Quera-Bofarull, Arnau

Abstract

UV line driven winds may be an important part of the AGN feedback process, but understanding their impact is hindered by the complex nature of the radiation hydrodynamics. Instead, we have taken the approach pioneered by Risaliti & Elvis, calculating only ballistic trajectories from radiation forces and gravity, but neglecting gas pressure. We have completely re-written their QWIND code using more robust algorithms, and can now quickly model the acceleration phase of these winds for any AGN spectral energy distribution spanning UV and X-ray wavebands. We demonstrate the code using an AGN with black hole mass 108 M⊙ emitting at half the Eddington rate and show that this can effectively eject a wind with velocities ≃ (0.1 − 0.2) c. The mass loss rates can be up to ≃ 0.3M⊙ per year, consistent with more computationally expensive hydrodynamical simulations, though we highlight the importance of future improvements in radiation transfer along the multiple different lines of sight illuminating the wind. The code is fully public, and can be used to quickly explore the conditions under which AGN feedback can be dominated by accretion disc winds.

Citation

Elvis, M., Risaliti, G., McDowell, J. C., Lacey, C., Done, C., & Quera-Bofarull, A. (2020). Qwind code release. A non-hydrodynamical approach to modelling line-driven winds in active galactic nuclei. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 495(1), 402-412. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa1117

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 20, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 30, 2020
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 3, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 5, 2020
• Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
• Print ISSN: 0035-8711
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2966
• Publisher: Royal Astronomical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 495
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 402-412
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa1117
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1271453