Observational evidence for AGN feedback in early-type galaxies

A major amendment in recent models of hierarchical galaxy formation is the inclusion of so-called active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback. The energy input from an active central massive black hole is invoked to suppress star formation in early-type galaxies at later epochs. A major problem is that this process is poorly understood, and compelling observational evidence for its mere existence is still missing. In search for signatures of AGN feedback, we have compiled a sample of 16 000 early-type galaxies in the redshift range 0.05 200 km s−1) and roughly evenly distributed between star formation and AGN at intermediate and low (σ

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• PU
  Princeton University
• CI
  California Institute of Technology
• UO
  University of Washington
• JH
  Johns Hopkins University
• UO
  University of Pittsburgh
• UO
  University of Portsmouth
• NM
  New Mexico State University
• LT
  Leverhulme Trust
• BF
  Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
• MO
  Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
• MF
  Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
• UN
  U.S. Naval Observatory
• F
  Fermilab