FIRE-2 simulations show per-galaxy tidal disruption rates peak near z=2.5 at 4e-4 per year, correlate with SFR and central density, and remain high in satellite galaxies at early times.
Black Holes on FIRE: Stellar Feedback Limits Early Feeding of Galactic Nuclei
6 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We introduce massive black holes (BHs) in the Feedback In Realistic Environments project and perform high-resolution cosmological hydrodynamic simulations of quasar-mass halos ($M_{\rm halo}(z=2) \approx 10^{12.5}\,\rm{M}_{\odot}$) down to $z=1$. These simulations model stellar feedback by supernovae, stellar winds, and radiation, and BH growth using a gravitational torque-based prescription tied to resolved properties of galactic nuclei. We do not include BH feedback. We show that early BH growth occurs through short ($\lesssim 1\,$Myr) accretion episodes that can reach or even exceed the Eddington rate. In this regime, BH growth is limited by bursty stellar feedback continuously evacuating gas from galactic nuclei, and BHs remain under-massive relative to the local $M_{\rm BH}$-$M_{\rm bulge}$ relation. BH growth is more efficient at later times, when the nuclear stellar potential retains a significant gas reservoir, star formation becomes less bursty, and galaxies settle into a more ordered state, with BHs rapidly converging onto the scaling relation when the host reaches $M_{\rm bulge} \sim 10^{10}\,\rm{M}_{\odot}$. Our results are not sensitive to the details of the accretion model so long as BH growth is tied to the gas content within $\sim 100\,$pc of the BH. Our simulations imply that bursty stellar feedback has strong implications for BH and AGN demographics, especially in the early Universe and for low-mass galaxies.
citation-role summary
citation-polarity summary
years
2026 6verdicts
UNVERDICTED 6roles
other 1polarities
unclear 1representative citing papers
Numerical simulations find that black-hole wandering in FDM soliton cores produces intermittent accretion, limiting durable boosts except for ~10^7 solar mass seeds in low-sound-speed gas.
Simulations of Milky Way-mass galaxies reveal direction-dependent dynamical heating during stellar radial migration, with inward migrators heating, some cooling, and cold preservation uncommon especially for older stars.
New Gemini/GNIRS observations of star-forming radio galaxies show warm H2 emission driven primarily by mergers rather than jets.
FIRE-3 cosmological simulations of Seyfert galaxies produce episodic AGN feedback and gas clearing but no clear anti-correlation between nuclear gas concentration and AGN luminosity, highlighting timing mismatches with observations.
High-resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations find that major mergers do not trigger sustained super-Eddington black hole accretion in low-mass halos when feedback is included; episodes occur only immediately after seeding or with feedback disabled.
citing papers explorer
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Hot or Cold? Radial Redistribution of Stars in FIRE Simulations of Milky Way-Mass Galaxies and the Asymmetry of Inward versus Outward Migrators
Simulations of Milky Way-mass galaxies reveal direction-dependent dynamical heating during stellar radial migration, with inward migrators heating, some cooling, and cold preservation uncommon especially for older stars.
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When Jets Don't Quench: Near-Infrared H$_{2}$ in Star Forming Low-Excitation Radio Galaxies
New Gemini/GNIRS observations of star-forming radio galaxies show warm H2 emission driven primarily by mergers rather than jets.
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Investigating black hole accretion and feedback self-regulation in Seyfert galaxies using the FIRE-3 cosmological hydrodynamic simulations
FIRE-3 cosmological simulations of Seyfert galaxies produce episodic AGN feedback and gas clearing but no clear anti-correlation between nuclear gas concentration and AGN luminosity, highlighting timing mismatches with observations.
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The role of major mergers in triggering super-Eddington accretion
High-resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations find that major mergers do not trigger sustained super-Eddington black hole accretion in low-mass halos when feedback is included; episodes occur only immediately after seeding or with feedback disabled.