The XMAGNET Exascale MHD Simulations of SMBH Feedback in Galaxy Groups and Clusters: Overview and Preliminary Cluster Results

We present initial results from extremely well-resolved 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations of idealized galaxy clusters, conducted using the AthenaPK code on the Frontier exascale supercomputer. These simulations explore the self-regulation of galaxy groups and cool-core clusters by cold gas-trigg...

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Main Authors: Philipp Grete, Brian W. O’Shea, Forrest W. Glines, Deovrat Prasad, Benjamin D. Wibking, Martin Fournier, Marcus Brüggen, G. Mark Voit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adde45
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author Philipp Grete
Brian W. O’Shea
Forrest W. Glines
Deovrat Prasad
Benjamin D. Wibking
Martin Fournier
Marcus Brüggen
G. Mark Voit
author_facet Philipp Grete
Brian W. O’Shea
Forrest W. Glines
Deovrat Prasad
Benjamin D. Wibking
Martin Fournier
Marcus Brüggen
G. Mark Voit
author_sort Philipp Grete
collection DOAJ
description We present initial results from extremely well-resolved 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations of idealized galaxy clusters, conducted using the AthenaPK code on the Frontier exascale supercomputer. These simulations explore the self-regulation of galaxy groups and cool-core clusters by cold gas-triggered active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback incorporating magnetized kinetic jets. Our simulation campaign includes simulations of galaxy groups and clusters with a range of masses and intragroup and intracluster medium properties. In this paper, we present results that focus on a Perseus-like cluster. We find that the simulated clusters are self-regulating, with the cluster cores staying at a roughly constant thermodynamic state and AGN jet power staying at physically reasonable values (≃10 ^44 –10 ^45 erg s ^–1 ) for billions of years without a discernible duty cycle. These simulations also produce significant amounts of cold gas, with calculations having strong magnetic fields generally both promoting cold gas formation and allowing cold gas out to much larger cluster-centric radii (≃100 kpc) than simulations with weak or no fields (≃10 kpc), and also having more filamentary cold gas morphology. We find that AGN feedback significantly increases the strength of magnetic fields at the center of the cluster. We also find that the magnetized turbulence generated by the AGN results in turbulence where the velocity power spectra are tied to AGN activity, whereas the magnetic energy spectra are much less impacted after reaching a stationary state.
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spelling doaj-art-3365e240ee0c40cf80c3cff32c1af2032025-08-20T03:51:29ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01988215510.3847/1538-4357/adde45The XMAGNET Exascale MHD Simulations of SMBH Feedback in Galaxy Groups and Clusters: Overview and Preliminary Cluster ResultsPhilipp Grete0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3555-9886Brian W. O’Shea1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2786-0348Forrest W. Glines2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6837-8195Deovrat Prasad3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1255-6375Benjamin D. Wibking4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3175-2291Martin Fournier5https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2593-1583Marcus Brüggen6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3369-7735G. Mark Voit7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3514-0383University of Hamburg , Hamburger Sternwarte, Gojenbergsweg 112, 21029 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Computational Mathematics, Science, & Engineering, Michigan State University , 428 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Department of Physics & Astronomy, 567 Wilson Road, Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University , 640 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research, 567 Wilson Road, Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI 48824, USATheoretical Division , TA-3 Bldg. 123, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USASchool of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University , 5 The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UKDepartment of Physics & Astronomy, 567 Wilson Road, Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI 48824, USAUniversity of Hamburg , Hamburger Sternwarte, Gojenbergsweg 112, 21029 Hamburg, GermanyUniversity of Hamburg , Hamburger Sternwarte, Gojenbergsweg 112, 21029 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Physics & Astronomy, 567 Wilson Road, Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI 48824, USAWe present initial results from extremely well-resolved 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations of idealized galaxy clusters, conducted using the AthenaPK code on the Frontier exascale supercomputer. These simulations explore the self-regulation of galaxy groups and cool-core clusters by cold gas-triggered active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback incorporating magnetized kinetic jets. Our simulation campaign includes simulations of galaxy groups and clusters with a range of masses and intragroup and intracluster medium properties. In this paper, we present results that focus on a Perseus-like cluster. We find that the simulated clusters are self-regulating, with the cluster cores staying at a roughly constant thermodynamic state and AGN jet power staying at physically reasonable values (≃10 ^44 –10 ^45 erg s ^–1 ) for billions of years without a discernible duty cycle. These simulations also produce significant amounts of cold gas, with calculations having strong magnetic fields generally both promoting cold gas formation and allowing cold gas out to much larger cluster-centric radii (≃100 kpc) than simulations with weak or no fields (≃10 kpc), and also having more filamentary cold gas morphology. We find that AGN feedback significantly increases the strength of magnetic fields at the center of the cluster. We also find that the magnetized turbulence generated by the AGN results in turbulence where the velocity power spectra are tied to AGN activity, whereas the magnetic energy spectra are much less impacted after reaching a stationary state.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adde45Galaxy clustersGalaxy jetsIntracluster mediumMagnetic fieldsMagnetohydrodynamical simulations
spellingShingle Philipp Grete
Brian W. O’Shea
Forrest W. Glines
Deovrat Prasad
Benjamin D. Wibking
Martin Fournier
Marcus Brüggen
G. Mark Voit
The XMAGNET Exascale MHD Simulations of SMBH Feedback in Galaxy Groups and Clusters: Overview and Preliminary Cluster Results
The Astrophysical Journal
Galaxy clusters
Galaxy jets
Intracluster medium
Magnetic fields
Magnetohydrodynamical simulations
title The XMAGNET Exascale MHD Simulations of SMBH Feedback in Galaxy Groups and Clusters: Overview and Preliminary Cluster Results
title_full The XMAGNET Exascale MHD Simulations of SMBH Feedback in Galaxy Groups and Clusters: Overview and Preliminary Cluster Results
title_fullStr The XMAGNET Exascale MHD Simulations of SMBH Feedback in Galaxy Groups and Clusters: Overview and Preliminary Cluster Results
title_full_unstemmed The XMAGNET Exascale MHD Simulations of SMBH Feedback in Galaxy Groups and Clusters: Overview and Preliminary Cluster Results
title_short The XMAGNET Exascale MHD Simulations of SMBH Feedback in Galaxy Groups and Clusters: Overview and Preliminary Cluster Results
title_sort xmagnet exascale mhd simulations of smbh feedback in galaxy groups and clusters overview and preliminary cluster results
topic Galaxy clusters
Galaxy jets
Intracluster medium
Magnetic fields
Magnetohydrodynamical simulations
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adde45
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