Cosmological evolution of the AGN Kinetic Luminosity Function

Abstract

We present a first attempt to derive the cosmological evolution of the kinetic luminosity function of AGN based on the joint evolution of the flat spectrum radio and hard X-ray selected AGN luminosity functions. An empirical correlation between jet power and radio core luminosity is found, which is consistent with the theoretical assumption that, below a certain Eddington ratio, SMBH accrete in a radiatively inefficient way, while most of the energy output is in the form of kinetic energy. We show how the redshift evolution of the kinetic power density from such a low-mdot mode of accretion makes it a good candidate to explain the so-called ``radio mode'' of AGN feedback as postulated in many galaxy formation schemes.

4 pages, 2 color figures. Proc. of the IAU symposium No. 238 "Black holes: from stars to galaxies - across the range of masses", Prague, Aug. 2006. V. Karas & G. Matt (eds.)