Active galactic nuclei feedback in an elliptical galaxy (III): the impacts and fate of cosmological inflow

The cosmological inflow of a galaxy is speculated to be able to enter the galaxy and enhance the star formation rate (SFR) and black hole accretion rate (BHAR). In this paper, by performing high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations in the framework of MACER, we investigate the fate of the inflow and its impacts on the evolution of a massive elliptical galaxy. The inflow properties are adopted from the cosmological simulation IllustrisTNG. We find that the inflow gas hardly enters but is blocked beyond similar to 20 kpc from the central galaxy and becomes part of the circumgalactic medium (CGM). The gas pressure gradient, mainly contributed by the thermalized stellar wind and subdominant contributed by the energy input from the active galactic nuclei (AGNs), balances gravity and prevents the inflow from entering the galaxy. The SFR and BHAR are almost not affected by the normal inflo w. Ho we ver, if the rate of cosmological inflow were increased by a factor of 3, a small fraction of the inflow would enter the galaxy and contribute about 10 per cent of the gas in the galaxy. In this case, the gas density in the galaxy would increase by a factor of greater than or similar to 20. This increase is not because of the additional gas supply by the inflow but due to the increase of gas density and pressure in the CGM caused by the inflow . Consequently , the SFR and BHAR would increase by a factor of similar to 5 and similar to 1000, respectively . Finally, AGN feedback can perturb the motion of the inflow and heat the CGM through its intermittent outbursts.

Automated summary

The fate of cosmological inflow in a massive elliptical galaxy and its impact on galaxy evolution are investigated through high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations. It is found that the inflow gas hardly enters the galaxy but becomes part of the circumgalactic medium (CGM). However, if the rate of cosmological inflow is increased, a small fraction of the inflow can enter the galaxy and significantly increase gas density and pressure in the CGM, leading to an increase in star formation rate (SFR) and black hole accretion rate (BHAR).