Supermassive black holes in merger-free galaxies have higher spins which are preferentially aligned with their host galaxy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Here, we use the Horizon–active galactic nucleus (AGN) simulation to test whether the spins of supermassive black hole (SMBH) in merger-free galaxies are higher. We select samples using an observationally motivated bulge-to-total mass ratio of <0.1, along with two simulation-motivated thresholds selecting galaxies which have not undergone a galaxy merger since z = 2, and those SMBHs with $\lt 10~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of their mass due to SMBH mergers. We find higher spins (>5σ) in all three sample compared to the rest of the population. In addition, we find that SMBHs with their growth dominated by BH mergers following galaxy mergers are less likely to be aligned with their galaxy spin than those that have grown through accretion in the absence of galaxy mergers (3.4σ). We discuss the implications this has for the impact of active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback, finding that merger-free SMBHs spend on average 91 per cent of their lifetimes since z = 2 in a radio mode of feedback (88 per cent for merger-dominated galaxies). Given that previous observational and theoretical works have concluded that merger-free processes dominate SMBH-galaxy co-evolution, our results suggest that this co-evolution could be regulated by radio mode AGN feedback.