On the Maximum Luminosity of Galaxies and Their Central Black Holes: Feedback from Momentum‐driven Winds

We investigate large-scale galactic winds driven by momentum deposition. Momentum injection is provided by (1) radiation pressure produced by the continuum absorption and scattering of UV photons on dust grains and (2) supernovae. UV radiation can be produced by a starburst or AGN activity. We argue that momentum-driven winds are an efficient mechanism for feedback during the formation of galaxies. We show that above a limiting luminosity, momentum deposition from star formation can expel a significant fraction of the gas in a galaxy. The limiting, Eddington-like luminosity is $L_{\rm M}\simeq(4f_g c/G) \sigma^4$, where $\sigma$ is the galaxy velocity dispersion and $f_g$ is the gas fraction. A starburst that…