Abstract

Contributed Talk - Splinter SMBHs

Wednesday, 09 September 2026, 17:13   (MW-0250)

The impact of AGN radiative feedback on the [O III] outflow activity and obscuration in X-ray AGN

Carolina Andonie
Max Plansk Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

Large-scale ionised outflows and nuclear obscuration are fundamental manifestations of AGN activity, yet direct observational evidence simultaneously linking these phenomena remains scarce. In this study, we analyze nearly 3,000 X-ray AGN identified by eROSITA with high-quality SDSS optical spectra out to z~0.8. By modeling both the X-ray and optical spectra, we quantify AGN obscuration, measure the Eddington ratio (lambda_Edd), and characterize large-scale outflow kinematics using the [O III] emission line. We find that roughly 40% of AGN in our sample host [O III] outflows with velocities exceeding 600 km/s, with the incidence of outflows strongly increasing with AGN luminosity. Notably, AGN accreting above log lambda_Edd >-1.7 are found to be five times less obscured and to launch twice more outflows compared to lower-accreting systems. These results suggest that AGN radiative feedback efficiently expels circumnuclear material, decreasing AGN obscuration and driving powerful outflows that can reach the host galaxy. In addition, we find that∼1% of the sample populates the “forbidden region” of the NH−lambda_Edd plane, where the outflow incidence peaks at∼52%, consistent with a short-lived feedback phase. I will discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of how black holes regulate their circumnuclear environment and that of their host galaxies, and how new facilities such as 4MOST will help to better understand AGN feedback.