How AGN Jets Heat the Intracluster Medium -- Insights from Simulations

Abstract

Feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGN) is believed to prevent catastrophic cooling in galaxy clusters. However, how the feedback energy is transformed into heat, and how the AGN jets heat the intracluster medium (ICM) isotropically, still remain elusive. Since recent simulations based on cold gas accretion and momentum-driven jet feedback have shown remarkable successes reproducing properties of the cool cores (CCs), we use such simulations to gain insights into the mechanisms and distributions of AGN heating. In this talk, I will present our findings on the relative importance of shock heating, mixing with the hot thermal gas within bubbles, and turbulent dissipation. I will also show how the thermal balance is established within the entire CC despite the fact that AGN jets preferentially dump the heat near the jet axis.