Black hole jets shape galaxy evolution through circumgalactic gas

Astronomers at Arizona State University and the Raman Research Institute combined DESI and LOFAR data on hundreds of galaxies with active jets and found strong ionized hydrogen (H-alpha) emission along the radio jet axes. The jets heat and stir gas in the circumgalactic medium, potentially boosting or quenching star formation.

• DESI (Mayall Telescope) and LOFAR LoTSS data cover hundreds of galaxies with active jets
• Strong H-alpha signals detected along the radio jet axes
• The circumgalactic medium extends 10–20 times the visible galaxy size
• Jet influence reaches hundreds of thousands of light-years