Source – This post on Radio Jet and Interstellar Gas is based on the article “IIA finds proof of interaction between radio jet, interstellar gas” published in The Hindu on 28th September 2024.
Why in News?
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have found evidence of an interaction between a radio jet emitted from a special kind of galaxy called Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and the surrounding interstellar medium. This interaction has been detected for the first time in a dwarf galaxy situated at a distance of about 14 million light years.
About Radio jets
Radio jets in astrophysics refer to high-energy streams of charged particles ejected from the regions surrounding supermassive black holes, often located at the centre of galaxies.
These jets are typically observed at radio wavelengths and are thought to be produced by the interaction between the black hole’s magnetic field and the accretion disk, which channels material into narrow beams.
About Interstellar gas
Interstellar gases are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. It exists between stars in galaxies and serves as the medium through which radio jets propagate.
When a radio jet interacts with interstellar gas, it can compress and heat the gas, triggering various effects, including star formation or, conversely, suppressing it by dispersing the gas.
What happen when radio jets and interstellar gas interacts?
The interaction between radio jets and interstellar gas can be highly dynamic, leading to phenomena like:
1. Shock Waves: As radio jets flow through the gas, they generate shock waves, which can compress and heat the surrounding material.
2. Feedback Mechanism: Radio jets can either stimulate star formation by compressing gas clouds or inhibit it by heating and dispersing gas, a process known as “AGN (Active Galactic Nucleus) feedback.”
3. Molecular Outflows: The interaction between jets and interstellar gas can result in the ejection of gas from the galactic center, influencing the galaxy’s evolution.
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