scholarly journals SiO and H2O Masers in the Central Parsec of the Galaxy

1998 ◽  
Vol 164 ◽  
pp. 229-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl M. Menten ◽  
Mark J. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Galactic Center ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Infrared Images ◽  
Evolved Stars ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Central Parsec ◽  
Infrared Sources

AbstractWe have discovered maser emission from SiO and H2O molecules toward a number of evolved stars within the central parsec of our Galaxy. The maser positions can be registered with milliarcsecond precision relative to the radio continuum emission of the nonthermal Galactic center source Sgr A*. Since the masing stars are prominent infrared sources, our data can be used to locate the position of Sgr A* on infrared images of the Galactic center region. Using VLBA observations it will be possible to measure proper motions of the maser stars, which can be used to put constraints on the mass distribution in the central parsec.

scholarly journals Radio Continuum Emission from the Nuclei of Normal Galaxies

1980 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. van der Hulst
Keyword(s):  
Radio Emission ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Thermal Source ◽  
Very Large Array ◽  
Normal Galaxies ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Sgr A

During the last few years detailed and sensitive observations of the radio emission from the nuclei of many normal spiral galaxies has become available. Observations from the Very Large Array (VLA) of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO1), in particular, enable us to distinguish details on a scale of ≤100 pc for galaxies at distances less than 21 Mpc. The best studied nucleus, however, still is the center of our own Galaxy (see Oort 1977 and references therein). Its radio structure is complex. It consists of an extended non-thermal component 200 × 70 pc in size, with embedded therein several giant HII regions and the central source Sgr A (˜9 pc in size). Sgr A itself consists of a thermal source, Sgr A West, located at the center of the Galaxy, and a weaker, non-thermal source, Sgr A East. Sgr A West moreover contains a weak, extremely compact (≤10 AU) source. The radio morphology of several other galactic nuclei is quite similar to that of the Galactic Center, as will be discussed in section 2. Recent reviews of the radio properties of the nuclei of normal galaxies have been given by Ekers (1978a,b) and De Bruyn (1978). The latter author, however, concentrates on galaxies with either active nuclei or an unusual radio morphology. In this paper I will describe recent results from the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT, Hummel 1979), the NRAO 3-element interferometer (Carlson, 1977; Condon and Dressel 1978), and the VLA (Heckman et al., 1979; Van der Hulst et al., 1979). I will discuss the nuclear radio morphology in section 2, the luminosities in section 3, and the spectra in section 4. In section 5 I will briefly comment upon the possible implications for the physical processes in the nuclei that are responsible for the radio emission.

scholarly journals 10.2. High proper motions in the vicinity of Sgr A∗: unambiguous evidence for a massive central black hole

1998 ◽  
Vol 184 ◽  
pp. 433-434
Author(s):  
A. M. Ghez ◽  
B. L. Klein ◽  
C. McCabe ◽  
M. Morris ◽  
E. E. Becklin
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Robust Method ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Central Black Hole ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Sgr A

Although the notion that the Milky Way galaxy contains a supermassive central black hole has been around for more than two decades, it has been difficult to prove that one exists. The challenge is to assess the distribution of matter in the few central parsecs of the Galaxy. Assuming that gravity is the dominant force, the motion of the stars and gas in the vicinity of the putative black hole offers a robust method for accomplishing this task, by revealing the mass interior to the radius of the objects studied. Thus objects located closest to the Galactic Center provide the strongest constraints on the black hole hypothesis.

scholarly journals Micro-arcsecond astrometry with the VLBA

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S248) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Trigonometric Parallaxes ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Almost All

AbstractThe VLBA is now achieving parallaxes and proper motions with accuracies approaching the micro-arcsecond domain. The apparent proper motion of Sgr A*, which reflects the orbit of the Sun around the Galactic center, has been measured with high accuracy. This measurement strongly constrains Θ0/R0 and offers a dynamical definition of the Galactic plane with Sgr A*at its origin. The intrinsic motion of Sgr A*is very small and comparable to that expected for a supermassive black hole. Trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions for a number of massive star forming regions (MSFRs) have now been measured. For almost all cases, kinematic distances exceed the true distances, suggesting that the Galactic parameters, R0 and Θ0, are inaccurate. Solutions for the Solar Motion are in general agreement with those obtained from Hipparcos data, except that MSFRs appear to be rotating slower than the Galaxy. Finally, the VLBA has been used to measure extragalactic proper motions and to map masers in distant AGN accretion disks, which will yield direct estimates of H0.

scholarly journals Multi-Array λ2 and 6cm Radio Continuum Observations of Sgr A West

1989 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 443-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Yusef-Zadeh ◽  
Mark Morris ◽  
Ron Ekers
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Index ◽  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Spectral Indices ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Index Maps ◽  
East West

Sub-arcsecond (down to 0.1″ × 0.2″) radio continuum observations using the VLA2 in a number of configurations have been carried out in order to investigate the fine-scale morphological details of the ionized gas and the distribution of spectral index along the triskelian-shaped figure of Sgr A West. In addition to finding a number of isolated patches of thermally-emitting gas and an absorbing feature at λ6cm within three arcminutes of the Galactic center, we have observed:1) radio continuum emission from IRS-7, implying that the stellar wind from this supergiant is externally ionized. An improved position for this object was obtained.2) the circular mini-cavity located along the east-west bar of Sgr A West. This feature has a diameter of 2-arcseconds and may have been created by a spherical wind, the source of which is yet to be identified; the seemingly most plausible candidate, IRS-16, is offset by 3″ from the center of the cavity.Spectral index maps having a resolution of 0.7″ × 0.3″ were made from scaled array observations at λ2cm and 6cm. They show that the eastern arm has a spectral index near −0.1, while the northern arm and the bar have positive spectral indices, indicating perhaps a partial opacity effect. The spectral index of IRS-7 is +0.6, consistent with that expected from a completely ionized stellar wind.

scholarly journals THE GALACTIC CENTER

1981 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 281-295
Author(s):  
Ian Gatley ◽  
E. E. Becklin
Keyword(s):  
Angular Resolution ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Mass Density ◽  
High Angular Resolution ◽  
Density Structure ◽  
Unique Region ◽  
Ultimate Source ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Central Parsec

Recent infrared and radio observations of the Galactic Center are reviewed. For the region between 1 and 100 pc most of the observed phenomena can be explained by a large density of late-type stars, a ring of molecular material, and a number of regions of active star formation. The central parsec (Sgr A) appears to be a unique region of activity in the Galaxy; this result is based on recent high angular resolution data at 30 to 100 μm and high resolution spectral line observations at 12.8 μm. The observations are discussed in terms of the mass, density structure, and luminosity of the region; the ultimate source of the activity is discussed.

scholarly journals Compact Radio Cores in the Galactic Center and Elsewhere

1997 ◽  
Vol 163 ◽  
pp. 647-658
Author(s):  
Heino Falcke
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Seyfert Galaxies ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Vlbi Observations ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Nearby Galaxies ◽  
Liner Galaxies ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Observational Knowledge

AbstractCompact radio cores are not only common in radio galaxies and quasars but also in many nearby galaxies with low-active, supermassive black holes. One famous example is the Galactic Center source Sgr A*. Recent studies of proper motions and radial velocities of stars in the inner parsec of the Galaxy convincingly demonstrate the presence of a compact dark mass of 2.5 · 106M⊙in the nucleus of the Milky Way. Millimeter VLBI and submm observations of Sgr A*thus probe a region of only a few Schwarzschild radii in diameter. In this paper I will review our current theoretical and observational knowledge of this source and compare it to some famous LINER galaxies like NGC 4258, NGC 3079, and NGC 6500. In all cases these radio cores can be well explained by a standard AGN jet model, and, with the exception of Sgr A*, large scale outflows are observed that have powers comparable to those inferred from the radio cores. Recent VLBI observations of radio-weak quasars and HST observations of Seyfert galaxies indicate that these AGN also produce powerful jets which, however, have relatively less luminous radio cores than radio-loud quasars and the LINERs discussed here. Therefore, jets and compact radio cores appear to be natural constituents of an AGN, but the reason why apparently some jets are radio-loud and others not remains a mystery.

scholarly journals Hat Creek HCO+ and HCN Observations of Sgr A

1989 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 407-410
Author(s):  
M.C.H. Wright ◽  
J. M. Marr ◽  
D. C. Backer
Keyword(s):  
Surface Density ◽  
Filling Factor ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Excitation Temperature ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Molecular Lines ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Absorption Features

We report aperture synthesis observations of the HCO+ and HCN J=1–0 molecular lines towards the Galactic center. These data complement existing HCN data and trace a dense molecular ring surrounding the ionized central 2 pc of the Galaxy. The new data are consistent with the model of a clumpy, almost complete ring which is inclined to the line of sight at 50 to 75 degrees. The same structure is seen in HCO+ and in HCN with the exception of an HCN feature at 60 to 100 km/s in the western part of the ring, which is not detected in HCO+ emission. The HCN and HCO+ are collisionally excited in clumps with densities around 10 cm and volume filling factor 1/3 to 1/30. H13 CN emission from the ring was detected at about 1/7 of the intensity of the HCN; the latter is optically thick and is mapping a combination of surface density and excitation temperature. The HCO+ emission shows deep absorption features associated with galactic structure along the line of sight. Absorption features corresponding to the 3 kpc arm, the inner disk and an expanding ring at −195 km/s can be seen in absorption against the Sgr A radio continuum.

scholarly journals The cosmic ray ionization rate in the central parsec of the Galaxy

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 429-433
Author(s):  
Miwa Goto
Keyword(s):  
Galactic Center ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Ionization Rate ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Astrophysics ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Γ Ray ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Central Parsec ◽  
Crossing Point

AbstractCosmic rays represent a unique crossing point of high-energy astrophysics and astrochemistry. The cosmic ray ionization rate of molecular hydrogen (ζ2) measured by H3+ spectroscopy in the central parsec of the Galaxy is 2 orders of magnitude higher than that in the dense clouds outside the Galactic center. However, it is still too short, by the factor of 10,000, to agree with an extremely high ζ2 that accommodates the new γ-ray observations of Sgr A* and its environment.

scholarly journals Masers and Galactic structure: Micro-arcsecond astrometry with the VLBA

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S242) ◽  
pp. 348-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Reid ◽  
A. Brunthaler ◽  
K. M. Menten ◽  
Xu Ye ◽  
Zheng Xing-Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Infrared Images ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Trigonometric Parallaxes ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractAstrometric observations with the VLBA with accuracies approaching ~ 10 μas are being conducted in order to better understand the Galaxy. The location of Sgr A* on infrared images can be determined with an accuracy of a few mas, using stars with SiO maser emission as a calibration grid for infrared images. The apparent proper motion of Sgr A*, which is dominated by the effects of the orbit of the Sun around the Galactic center, has been measured with high accuracy. This measurement strongly constrains Θ0R0 and offers a dynamical definition of the Galactic plane with Sgr A* at its origin. The intrinsic motion of Sgr A* is very small and comparable to that expected for a supermassive black hole. When combined with infrared results, this provides overwhelming evidence that Sgr A* is a supermassive black hole. Finally, we are engaged in a large project to map the spiral structure and kinematics of the Galaxy. Preliminary trigonometric parallaxes, obtained with the VLBA, to eight massive star forming regions are presented.

scholarly journals Radio Continuum Observations of the Barred Galaxy NGC 4314

1987 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 626-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. García-Barreto ◽  
P. Pişmiş
Keyword(s):  
Angular Resolution ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
No Emission ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Thermal Origin ◽  
Linearly Polarized ◽  
Barred Spiral Galaxy ◽  
Compact Sources ◽  
The Continuum

VLA observations have been made of the continuum emission at 20-cm from the barred spiral galaxy NGC 4314 with an angular resolution of 3.5 arcseconds that corresponds to a linear scale of approximately 156 pc at a distance to the galaxy. This resolution was sufficient to resolve the central region into several compact sources. The radiation is linearly polarized which may indicate a non-thermal origin. No emission was detected from the extended bar to a level of 130 Jy.

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