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We present a model describing the evolution of Fanaroff-Riley type I and II radio AGN, and the transition between these classes. We quantify galaxy environments using a semi-analytic galaxy formation model, and apply our model to a volume-limited low redshift (0.03 ≤ z ≤ 0.1) sample of observed AGN to determine the distribution of jet powers and active lifetimes at the present epoch. Radio sources in massive galaxies are found to remain active for longer, spend less time in the quiescent phase, and inject more energy into their hosts than their less massive counterparts. The jet power is independent of the host stellar mass within uncertainties, consistent with maintenance-mode AGN feedback paradigm. The environments of these AGN are in or close to long-term heating-cooling balance. We also examine the properties of high- and low-excitation radio galaxy sub-populations. The HERGs are younger than LERGs by an order of magnitude, whilst their jet powers are greater by a factor of four. The Eddington-scaled accretion rates and jet production efficiencies of these populations are consistent with LERGs being powered by radiatively inefficient advection dominated accretion flows (ADAFs), while HERGs are fed by a radiatively efficient accretion mechanism.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	galaxies: active, jets, evolution, radio continuum: galaxies
Research Division:	Physical Sciences
Research Group:	Astronomical and Space Sciences
Research Field:	Cosmology and Extragalactic Astronomy
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences
UTAS Author:	Turner, RJ (Mr Ross Turner)
UTAS Author:	Shabala, SS (Dr Stas Shabala)
ID Code:	100237
Year Published:	2015
Funding Support:	Australian Research Council (DE130101399)
Web of Science® Times Cited:	40
Deposited By:	Mathematics and Physics
Deposited On:	2015-05-07
Last Modified:	2017-11-01
Downloads:	386 View Download Statistics