Feeding the AGN with backflows

Abstract

We study the internal circulation within the cocoon carved out by a relativistic jet emanating from an AGN, first developing model and then validating it using a series of numerical simulations. We notice that a significant increase of in this flow arises because gradients in the density and entropy develop near the hot spot, as a consequence of Crocco vorticity theorem. We find simple solutions for the streamlines, and we use them to predict the mass inflow rates towards the central regions. The 2D simulations we perform span a rather wide range of mechanical jet's input power and Black Hole masses, and we show that the predicted nuclear mass inflows are in good agreement with the theoretical model.

6 pages, 4 figures. Oral contributed talk to "Accretion and Ejection in AGN: A global view", Como, Italy, May 22-26, 2009. Corrected few typos