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On the relationship between the cosmic web and the alignment of galaxies and AGN jets

Abstract:
The impact of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) on the evolution of galaxies explains the steep decrease in the number density of the most massive galaxies in the Universe. However, the fuelling of the AGN and the efficiency of this feedback largely depend on their environment. We use data from the Low Frequency Array Two-metre Sky Survey Data Release 2 (DR2), the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Legacy Imaging Surveys, and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR12 to make the first study of the orientations of radio jets and their optical counterpart in relation to the cosmic web environment. We find that close to filaments (), galaxies tend to have their optical major axes aligned with the nearest filaments. On the other hand, radio jets, which are generally aligned perpendicularly to the optical major axis of the host galaxy, show more randomized orientations with respect to host galaxies within of filaments. These results support the scenario that massive galaxies in cosmic filaments grow by numerous mergers directed along the orientation of the filaments while experiencing chaotic accretion of gas on to the central black hole. The AGN-driven jets consequently have a strong impact preferentially along the minor axes of dark matter haloes within filaments. We discuss the implications of these results for large-scale radio jet alignments, intrinsic alignments between galaxies, and the azimuthal anisotropy of the distribution of circumgalactic medium and anisotropic quenching.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1093/mnras/staf613

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Physics - Central
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-5512-3735
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Physics - Central
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-2265-5983
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Physics - Central
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-7039-9078
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Physics - Central
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-6279-4772
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Physics - Central
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-7288-6627


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/057g20z61
More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/001aqnf71
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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03m2x1q45
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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/01bj3aw27


Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Journal:
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society More from this journal
Volume:
539
Issue:
3
Pages:
2362-2379
Publication date:
2025-04-12
Acceptance date:
2025-04-10
DOI:
EISSN:
1365-2966
ISSN:
0035-8711


Language:
English
Keywords:
Source identifiers:
2913904
Deposit date:
2025-05-06
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