WENO Simulations of AGN-jet Induced Star Formation

This project discusses simulation results of star formation by Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) jets using the WENO method. A typical AGN jet with velocity uj=0.3c, density ρj=10^(-2) H/cm3, and temperature Tj=10^(7) K was injected into a 425 light years square region. The jet passes through a stationary inhomogeneous ambient background of temperature Ta=5x10^4 K and density ρa= 2 H/cm^3 to test if AGN jets, by creating bow shocks propagating through the interstellar medium and molecular clouds, can form stars in the densest regions. According to the star formation criteria for gravitational collapse of Cen and Ostriker, the resulting simulations indicate the presence of star formation via AGN jets (1992). The parameters are tuned to match Centaurs A to identify star formation in this galaxy. The simulations will also be run in three dimensions in the future and for longer time intervals to gain a better understanding of the star formation process via AGN jets.