Archaeology of galactic nuclei activity

A.V. Moiseev^†, A. Arshinova^‡, A.A. Smirnova^§
Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhnii Arkhyz, Zelenchukskiy Region, Karachai-Cherkessian Republic, Russian Federation

Considerable observational evidence suggests that the activity of supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei is transient. The term "active galactic nuclei archaeology" has even been coined. This implies the possibility of reconstructing the history of activity, such as changes in the nuclear luminosity over time across various ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, by analyzing how this activity manifested itself on galactic and extragalactic spatial scales. These phenomena include relic radio structures, gas clouds illuminated by the 'ionizing echo' of past activity, and Fermi/eROSITA bubbles. We provide a review of the results galactic nucleus activity studies, focusing on its observable impact on the intergalactic medium and circumgalactic environment. Our main focus is on optical observations of ionization cones and evidence of switching between radiative (ionization cones) and kinetic (radio jets) modes of nuclear activity.

Correspondence should be addressed to
Keywords: active galactic nuclei, galaxies, interstellar medium, high energy physics
PACS: 98.54.Cm
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2025.03.040022
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2026/3/e/
Web of Science

001721116200005
Scopus

2-s2.0-105043140788
ADS NASA

2026PhyU...69..239M
Citation: Moiseev A V, Arshinova A, Smirnova A A "Archaeology of galactic nuclei activity" Phys. Usp. 69 239–245 (2026)

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Received: 25th, August 2025, accepted: 19th, March 2025

Оригинал: Моисеев А В, Аршинова А, Смирнова А А «Археология активности ядер галактик» УФН 196 257–263 (2026); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2025.03.040022

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