scholarly journals The Mass Distribution in the Central Few Parsecs of the Galaxy

1989 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 493-499
Author(s):  
John H. Lacy

The determination of the mass distribution in the central few parsecs of the Galaxy, primarily from the ionized gas dynamics, is discussed. The gas motions are described and interpreted assuming that the orbits are determined by gravitational forces. It is shown that there is good evidence for a central mass of ~ 2 × 106 M⊙. The primary uncertainty in this conclusion results from the possibility of significant magnetic forces. In the absence of corroborating evidence, the case for a massive black hole cannot be considered proven.

2019 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. A130 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Bergamini ◽  
P. Rosati ◽  
A. Mercurio ◽  
C. Grillo ◽  
G. B. Caminha ◽  
...  

We present an improved determination of the total mass distribution of three massive clusters from the Cluster Lensing and Supernova Survey with Hubble and Hubble Frontier Fields, MACS J1206.2−0847 (z = 0.44), MACS J0416.1−2403 (z = 0.40), Abell S1063 (z = 0.35). We specifically reconstructed the sub-halo mass component with robust stellar kinematics information of cluster galaxies, in combination with precise strong lensing models based on large samples of spectroscopically identified multiple images. We used integral-field spectroscopy in the cluster cores, from the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer on the Very Large Telescope, to measure the stellar velocity dispersion, σ, of 40−60 member galaxies per cluster, covering four to five magnitudes to mF160W ≃ 21.5. We verified the robustness and quantified the accuracy of the velocity dispersion measurements with extensive spectral simulations. With these data, we determined the normalization and slope of the galaxy L–σ Faber–Jackson relation in each cluster and used these parameters as a prior for the scaling relations of the sub-halo population in the mass distribution modeling. When compared to our previous lens models, the inclusion of member galaxies’ kinematics provides a similar precision in reproducing the positions of the multiple images. However, the inherent degeneracy between the central effective velocity dispersion, σ0, and truncation radius, rcut, of sub-halos is strongly reduced, thus significantly alleviating possible systematics in the measurements of sub-halo masses. The three independent determinations of the σ0 − rcut scaling relation in each cluster are found to be fully consistent, enabling a statistical determination of sub-halo sizes as a function of σ0, or halo masses. Finally, we derived the galaxy central velocity dispersion functions of the three clusters projected within 16% of their virial radius, finding that they are well in agreement with each other. We argue that such a methodology, when applied to high-quality kinematics and strong lensing data, allows the sub-halo mass functions to be determined and compared with those obtained from cosmological simulations.


1989 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 501-501
Author(s):  
M. T. McGinn ◽  
K. Sellgren ◽  
E. E. Becklin ◽  
D. N. B. Hall

We present the results of a project to map the profile of the 2.3 μm CO V = 2–0 band-head in the integrated starlight in the central 10 pc of the Galaxy. This is the first detailed determination of the kinematics of the faint stars that are the major constituent of the mass of the stellar cluster. The stars exhibit systematic rotation in the same sense as Galactic rotation, with VLSR increasing with Galactocentric radius. The stellar velocity dispersion generally dominates the rotation and shows clear evidence for a radial gradient, in the sense of σ decreasing with Galactocentric radius. The data are consistent with the dynamical center of the Galaxy being located at IRS 16 (to an accuracy of ± 10″). The mass distribution has been derived via the theory of stellar hydrodynamics and is shown in Fig. 1. For an assumed core radius of 10″ (~0.4 pc), the best fitting model is a combination of a central mass of 2.5 × 106 M⊙ and a stellar cluster with a density dependence of r-2.1 (Fig. 1). If the core radius is small (~1″) then the mass distribution could be just due to a stellar cluster; a central condensed mass is not required to model the data in that case.


1966 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
Richard Woolley

It is now possible to determine proper motions of high-velocity objects in such a way as to obtain with some accuracy the velocity vector relevant to the Sun. If a potential field of the Galaxy is assumed, one can compute an actual orbit. A determination of the velocity of the globular clusterωCentauri has recently been completed at Greenwich, and it is found that the orbit is strongly retrograde in the Galaxy. Similar calculations may be made, though with less certainty, in the case of RR Lyrae variable stars.


Author(s):  
S. Golladay

The theory of multiple scattering has been worked out by Groves and comparisons have been made between predicted and observed signals for thick specimens observed in a STEM under conditions where phase contrast effects are unimportant. Independent measurements of the collection efficiencies of the two STEM detectors, calculations of the ratio σe/σi = R, where σe, σi are the total cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattering respectively, and a model of the unknown mass distribution are needed for these comparisons. In this paper an extension of this work will be described which allows the determination of the required efficiencies, R, and the unknown mass distribution from the data without additional measurements or models. Essential to the analysis is the fact that in a STEM two or more signal measurements can be made simultaneously at each image point.


2018 ◽  
pp. 138-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Abraham ◽  
Eckhard Flöter

The presence of polysaccharides in cane and beet raw juices causes several negative effects during the sugar manufacture. These are usually mitigated by enzymatic decomposition of dextrans. Such effects not only depend on the content, but also on the molecular mass distribution. This means that the different dextran fractions specifically affect the process. An accurate process control hence requires the most precise knowledge about the existing content and the molecular mass distribution present. A detailed understanding of the specific processing problems and also a targeted enzyme application hence requires the determination of a total dextran content and also its characterization including the differentiation between the different dextran fractions. An accurate analytical tool which equally satisfies industrial applicability is still lacking. To improve on this situation, two new approaches for the determination of dextran were developed and benchmarked against the commonly used and established Haze Method, which is rather inaccurate and also sensitive to molecular mass variation. The two new approaches are both based on polarimetry. These two methods indicate to be superior over the Haze Method with respect two molecular mass variation and hence enable the determination of a broader molecular size range including also low molecular mass dextrans.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 581-582
Author(s):  
L. Lindegren ◽  
M.A.C. Perryman

The Hipparcos mission demonstrated the efficiency of space astrometry (in terms of number of objects, accuracy, and uniformity of results) and the fact that a relatively small instrument can have a very large scientific potential in the area of astrometry. However, Hipparcos could probe less than 0.1 per cent of the volume of the Galaxy by direct distance measurements. Using a larger instrument and more efficient detectors, it is now technically feasible to increase the efficiency of a space astrometry mission by several orders of magnitude, thus encompassing a large part of the Galaxy within its horizon for accurate determination of parallaxes and transverse velocities. Such a mission will have immediate and profound impact in the areas of the physics and evolution of individual stars and of the Galaxy as a whole.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (S359) ◽  
pp. 280-282
Author(s):  
Gustavo Amaral Lanfranchi ◽  
Anderson Caproni ◽  
Jennifer F. Soares ◽  
Larissa S. de Oliveira

AbstractThe gas evolution of a typical Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy is investigated by means of 3D hydrodynamic simulations, taking into account the feedback of type II and Ia supernovae, the outflow of an Intermediate Massive Black Hole (IMBH) and a static cored dark matter potential. When the IMBH’s outflow is simulated in an homogeneous medium a jet structure is created and a small fraction of the gas is pushed away from the galaxy. No jet structure can be seen, however, when the medium is disturbed by supernovae, but gas is still pushed away. In this case, the main driver of the gas removal are the supernovae. The interplay between the stellar feedback and the IMBH’s outflow should be taken into account.


2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (3) ◽  
pp. 3904-3928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Leaman ◽  
Francesca Fragkoudi ◽  
Miguel Querejeta ◽  
Gigi Y C Leung ◽  
Dimitri A Gadotti ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Stellar feedback plays a significant role in modulating star formation, redistributing metals, and shaping the baryonic and dark structure of galaxies – however, the efficiency of its energy deposition to the interstellar medium is challenging to constrain observationally. Here we leverage HST and ALMA imaging of a molecular gas and dust shell ($M_{\mathrm{ H}_2} \sim 2\times 10^{5}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$) in an outflow from the nuclear star-forming ring of the galaxy NGC 3351, to serve as a boundary condition for a dynamical and energetic analysis of the outflowing ionized gas seen in our MUSE TIMER survey. We use starburst99 models and prescriptions for feedback from simulations to demonstrate that the observed star formation energetics can reproduce the ionized and molecular gas dynamics – provided a dominant component of the momentum injection comes from direct photon pressure from young stars, on top of supernovae, photoionization heating, and stellar winds. The mechanical energy budget from these sources is comparable to low luminosity active galactic neuclei, suggesting that stellar feedback can be a relevant driver of bulk gas motions in galaxy centres – although here ≲10−3 of the ionized gas mass is escaping the galaxy. We test several scenarios for the survival/formation of the cold gas in the outflow, including in situ condensation and cooling. Interestingly, the geometry of the molecular gas shell, observed magnetic field strengths and emission line diagnostics are consistent with a scenario where magnetic field lines aided survival of the dusty ISM as it was initially launched (with mass-loading factor ≲1) from the ring by stellar feedback. This system’s unique feedback-driven morphology can hopefully serve as a useful litmus test for feedback prescriptions in magnetohydrodynamical galaxy simulations.


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