connections between active galactic nuclei and galaxy bulges

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Turbulent magnetic friction in an accretion disk of matter spiralling into a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy can cause the infalling matter to heat up and give off the light we see as an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN). Exactly how this process works is not understood, but various lines of argument do suggest that a wind launched from the accretion disk will carry away angular momentum and allow matter to fall into the black hole. These winds affect the formation and development of galaxies and distribute metal-enriched gas into intergalactic space. What is needed now is a detailed comparison of the optical and ultraviolet properties of thousands of AGN with wind model predictions. Knowing which kinds of winds reproduce the observations will help refine theoretical wind models and improve our ability to infer the fundamental physical parameters of AGN from their observable parameters. Better understanding of AGN winds will lead to better understanding of AGN and of how galaxies have been influenced by AGN feedback.