{
  "abstract": "Most cosmological simulations invoke quasar-driven winds as the primary mechanism quenching star formation in massive galaxies, assuming wind momentum flux approaches the radiation-pressure maximum, $L/c$. Using 81,388 broad absorption line troughs from the SDSS-IV DR16 quasar catalog and detailed mock trough spectra, we detect line locking, a spectral signature of radiation-pressure-driven outflows, in 60 to 70 percent of troughs, demonstrating that radiative line driving dominates wind acceleration and ruling out alternative mechanisms. Direct measurement of the wind energy budget yields a median kinetic luminosity of only 0.01 percent of bolometric luminosity, 50 times below the level required for effective feedback. Line-driven quasar winds are therefore insufficiently powerful to quench star formation, challenging the primary physical mechanism invoked for black hole feedback in galaxy formation models.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.07624",
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Braden Seefeldt-Gail"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lluís Mas-Ribas"
    },
    {
      "name": "Norman Murray"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b2xxx24f8m0k4.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.07624",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "b2xxx24f8m0k4",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.07624",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.GA"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221027872",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.07624",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b2xxx24f8m0k4.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:27:22Z",
      "native_id": "2610.07624",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.07624"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.GA",
      "subfield": "galaxies"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Radiation pressure powers quasar broad absorption line winds but fails to drive galaxy feedback",
  "title_text": "Radiation pressure powers quasar broad absorption line winds but fails to drive galaxy feedback",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:27:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b2xxx24f8m0k4",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}