scholarly journals Search for time lag in intra-day variability of Sgr A*

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 322-323
Author(s):  
A. Miyazaki ◽  
S. S. Lee ◽  
B. W. Sohn ◽  
T. Jung ◽  
M. Tsuboi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
Significant Time ◽  
Sagittarius A ◽  
Receiver System ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Plasma Blobs

AbstractWe searched the time lag between the intra-day variables (IDVs) of Sagittarius A* at 22, 43, and 86 GHz bands using the Korean VLBI Network (KVN). The time lags between the IDV flare peaks at 22 and 43 GHz are reported, and they suggest that the flare emissions come from adiabatically expanding plasma blobs, ejected close to the Galactic center black hole. We searched the time lags between light curves at 90 and 102 GHz using the Nobeyama Millimeter Array, but could not find significant time lags. In order to detect the diversity of the time lags of Sgr A* flares, we performed observations of Sgr A* in the 22, 43, and 86 GHz bands using the KVN in the winter of 2013. Because the receiver system of KVN can observe Sgr A* in these three bands simultaneously, the KVN is very useful to detect the time lags of Sgr A* flares.

scholarly journals The jet in the galactic center: An ideal laboratory for magnetohydrodynamics and general relativity

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S275) ◽  
pp. 68-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heino Falcke ◽  
Sera Markoff ◽  
Geoffrey C. Bower ◽  
Charles F. Gammie ◽  
Monika Mościbrodzka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Magnetized Plasma ◽  
Disk System ◽  
Strong Gravity ◽  
Shadow Cast ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractOf all possible black hole sources, the event horizon of the Galactic Center black hole, Sgr A*, subtends the largest angular scale on the sky. It is therefore a prime candidate to study and image plasma processes in strong gravity and it even allows imaging of the shadow cast by the event horizon. Recent mm-wave VLBI and radio timing observations as well as numerical GRMHD simulations now have provided several breakthroughs that put Sgr A* back into the focus. Firstly, VLBI observations have now measured the intrinsic size of Sgr A* at multiple frequencies, where the highest frequency measurements have approached the scale of the black hole shadow. Moreover, measurements of the radio variability show a clear time lag between 22 GHz and 43 GHz. The combination of size and timing measurements, allows one to actually measure the flow speed and direction of magnetized plasma at some tens of Schwarzschild radii. This data strongly support a moderately relativistic outflow, consistent with an accelerating jet model. This is compared to recent GRMHD simulation that show the presence of a moderately relativistic outflow coupled to an accretion flow Sgr A*. Further VLBI and timing observations coupled to simulations have the potential to map out the velocity profile from 5-40 Schwarzschild radii and to provide a first glimpse at the appearance of a jet-disk system near the event horizon. Future submm-VLBI experiments would even be able to directly image those processes in strong gravity and directly confirm the presence of an event horizon.

scholarly journals Inclination effects on the X-ray emission of Galactic black-hole binaries

2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Reig ◽  
Nikolaos D. Kylafis
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Energy Spectra ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Galactic Black Hole ◽  
Photon Index ◽  
Inclination Angles

Context. Galactic black-hole X-ray binaries (BHBs) emit a compact, optically thick, mildly relativistic radio jet when they are in hard and hard-intermediate states. In these states, BHBs exhibit a correlation between the time lag of hard with respect to softer photons and the photon index of the power law component that characterizes the X-ray spectral continuum above ∼10 keV. The correlation, however, shows large scatter. In recent years, several works have brought to light the importance of taking into account the inclination of the systems to understand the X-ray and radio phenomenology of BHBs. Aims. Our objective is to investigate the role that the inclination plays on the correlation between the time lag and photon index. Methods. We obtained RXTE energy spectra and light curves of a sample of BHBs with different inclination angles. We computed the photon index and the time lag between hard and soft photons and performed a correlation and linear regression analysis of the two variables. We also computed energy spectra and light curves of BHBs using the Monte Carlo technique that reproduces the process of Comptonization in the jet. We account for the inclination effects by recording the photons that escape from the jet at different angles. From the simulated light curves and spectra we obtained model-dependent photon index and time lags, which we compared with those obtained from the real data. Results. We find that the correlation between the time lag and photon index is tight in low-inclination systems and becomes weaker in high-inclination systems. The amplitude of the lags is also larger at low- and intermediate-inclination angles than at high inclination. We also find that the photon index and time lag, obtained from the simulated spectra and light curves, also follow different relationships for different inclination angle ranges. Our jet model reproduces the observations remarkably well. The same set of models that reproduces the correlation for the low-inclination systems, also accounts for the correlation for intermediate- and high-inclination systems fairly well. Conclusions. The large dispersion observed in the time lag – photon index correlation in BHBs can naturally be explained as an inclination effect. Comptonization in the jet explains the steeper dependence of the lags on the photon index in low- and intermediate-inclination systems than in high-inclination systems.

scholarly journals The reflection of two past outbursts of Sagittarius A* observed by Chandra during the last decade

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 344-348
Author(s):  
M. Clavel ◽  
R. Terrier ◽  
A. Goldwurm ◽  
M. R. Morris ◽  
G. Ponti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
High Resolution Data ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sagittarius A ◽  
Cloud Parameters ◽  
Angular Scale ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe supermassive black hole at the Galactic center, Sagittarius A* has experienced periods of higher activity in the past. The reflection of these past outbursts is observed in the molecular material surrounding the black hole but reconstructing its precise lightcurve is difficult since the distribution of the clouds along the line of sight is poorly constrained.Using Chandra high-resolution data collected from 1999 to 2011 we studied both the 6.4 keV and the 4–8 keV emission of the region located between Sgr A* and the Radio arc, characterizing its variations down to 15″ angular scale and 1-year time scale. The emission from the molecular clouds in the region varies significantly, showing either a 2-year peaked emission or 10-year linear variations. This is the first time that such fast variations are measured. Based on the cloud parameters, we conclude that these two behaviors are likely due to two distinct past outbursts of Sgr A* during which its luminosity rose to at least 1039 erg s−1.

scholarly journals Statistical and theoretical studies of flares from Sagittarius A⋆

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (S322) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Ya-Ping Li ◽  
Qiang Yuan ◽  
Q. Daniel Wang ◽  
P. F. Chen ◽  
Joseph Neilsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Solar Flares ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Spatial Dimension ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Sagittarius A ◽  
Multi Wavelength ◽  
Self Organized Criticality ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractMulti-wavelength flares have routinely been observed from the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A⋆ (Sgr A⋆), at our Galactic center. The nature of these flares remains largely unclear, despite many theoretical models. We study the statistical properties of the Sgr A⋆ X-ray flares and find that they are consistent with the theoretical prediction of the self-organized criticality system with the spatial dimension S = 3. We suggest that the X-ray flares represent plasmoid ejections driven by magnetic reconnection (similar to solar flares) in the accretion flow onto the black hole. Motivated by the statistical results, we further develop a time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model for the multi-band flares from Sgr A⋆ by analogy with models of solar flares/coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We calculate the X-ray, infrared flare light curves, and the spectra, and find that our model can explain the main features of the flares.

scholarly journals Jets at lowest mass accretion rates

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S275) ◽  
pp. 82-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipankar Maitra ◽  
Andrew Cantrell ◽  
Sera Markoff ◽  
Heino Falcke ◽  
Jon Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
Jet Physics ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
Accretion Rates ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractWe present results of recent observations and theoretical modeling of data from black holes accreting at very low luminosities (L/LEdd ≲ 10−8). We discuss our newly developed time-dependent model for episodic ejection of relativistic plasma within a jet framework, and a successful application of this model to describe the origin of radio flares seen in Sgr A*, the Galactic center black hole. Both the observed time lags and size-frequency relationships are reproduced well by the model. We also discuss results from new Spitzer data of the stellar black hole X-ray binary system A0620–00. Complemented by long term SMARTS monitoring, these observations indicate that once the contribution from the accretion disk and the donor star are properly included, the residual mid-IR spectral energy distribution of A0620–00 is quite flat and consistent with a non-thermal origin. The results above suggest that a significant fraction of the observed spectral energy distribution originating near black holes accreting at low luminosities could result from a mildly relativistic outflow. The fact that these outflows are seen in both stellar-mass black holes as well as in supermassive black holes at the heart of AGNs strengthens our expectation that accretion and jet physics scales with mass.

scholarly journals Class I methanol masers in the Galactic center

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 147-149
Author(s):  
L. O. Sjouwerman ◽  
Y. M. Pihlström
Keyword(s):  
Galactic Center ◽  
Class I ◽  
Large Array ◽  
Maser Emission ◽  
Very Large Array ◽  
Sagittarius A ◽  
Current Location ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Methanol Masers ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractWe report on the detection of 36 and 44 GHz Class I methanol (CH3OH) maser emission in the Sagittarius A (Sgr A) complex with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). These VLA observations show that the Sgr A complex harbors at least three different maser tracers of shocked regions in the radio regime. The 44 GHz masers correlate with the positions and velocities of previously detected 36 GHz CH3OH masers, but less with 1720 MHz OH masers. Our detections agree with theoretical predictions that the densities and temperatures conducive for 1720 MHz OH masers may also produce 36 and 44 GHz CH3OH maser emission. However, many 44 GHz masers do not overlap with 36 GHz methanol masers, suggesting that 44 GHz masers also arise in regions too hot and too dense for 36 GHz masers to form. This agrees with the non-detection of 1720 MHz OH masers in the same area, which are thought to be excited under even cooler and less dense conditions. We speculate that the geometry of the 36 GHz masers outlines the current location of a shock front.

scholarly journals 3D moving mesh simulations of Galactic center cloud G2

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 318-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Fragile ◽  
P. Anninos ◽  
S. D. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Rate ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Equations Of State ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Moving Mesh ◽  
Future Evolution ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Gas Cloud

AbstractUsing three-dimensional, moving-mesh simulations, we investigate the future evolution of the recently discovered gas cloud G2 traveling through the galactic center. From our simulations we expect an average feeding rate onto Sgr A* in the range of (5−19) × 10−8M⊙ yr−1 beginning in 2014. This accretion varies by less than a factor of three on timescales ∼ 1 month, and shows no more than a factor of 10 difference between the maximum and minimum observed rates within any given model. These rates are comparable to the current estimated accretion rate in the immediate vicinity of Sgr A*, although they represent only a small (< 10%) increase over the current expected feeding rate at the effective inner boundary of our simulations (racc = 750 RS ∼ 1015 cm). We also explore multiple possible equations of state to describe the gas. In examining the Br-γ light curves produced from our simulations, we find that all of our isothermal models predict significant (factor of 10) enhancements in the luminosity of G2 as it approaches pericenter, in conflict with observations. Models that instead allow the cloud to heat as it is compressed do better at matching observations.

scholarly journals How far actually is the Galactic Center IRS 13E3 from Sagittarius A*?

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masato Tsuboi ◽  
Yoshimi Kitamura ◽  
Takahiro Tsutsumi ◽  
Ryosuke Miyawaki ◽  
Makoto Miyoshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galactic Center ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Recombination Line ◽  
Intermediate Mass ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Sagittarius A ◽  
Projection Distance ◽  
Spectroscopic Information ◽  
Sgr A

Abstract The Galactic Center IRS 13E cluster is a very intriguing infrared object located at ${\sim } 0.13$ pc from Sagittarius A$^\ast$ (Sgr A$^\ast$) in projection distance. There are arguments both for and against the hypothesis that a dark mass like an intermediate mass black hole (IMBH) exists in the cluster. We recently detected the rotating ionized gas ring around IRS 13E3, which belongs to the cluster, in the H30$\alpha$ recombination line using ALMA. The enclosed mass is derived to be $M_{\mathrm{encl.}}\simeq 2\times 10^{4}\, M_\odot$, which agrees with an IMBH and is barely less than the astrometric upper limit mass of an IMBH around Sgr A$^\ast$. Because the limit mass depends on the true three-dimensional (3D) distance from Sgr A$^\ast$, it is very important to determine it observationally. However, the 3D distance is indefinite because it is hard to determine the line-of-sight (LOS) distance by usual methods. We attempt here to estimate the LOS distance from spectroscopic information. The CH$_3$OH molecule is easily destroyed by the cosmic rays around Sgr A$^{\ast }$. However, we detected a highly excited CH$_3$OH emission line in the ionized gas stream associated with IRS 13E3. This indicates that IRS 13E3 is located at $r\gtrsim 0.4$ pc from Sgr A$^{\ast }$.

scholarly journals Weak and strong deflection gravitational lensing by a renormalization group improved Schwarzschild black hole

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Lu ◽  
Yi Xie
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Renormalization Group ◽  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Quantum Effect ◽  
Apparent Size ◽  
Great Care ◽  
Schwarzschild Black Hole ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Near Future

AbstractWeak and strong deflection gravitational lensing by a renormalization group improved Schwarzschild black hole is investigated and its observables are found. By taking the supermassive black holes Sgr A* and M87* respectively in the Galactic Center and at the center of M87 as lenses, we estimate these observables and analyse possibility of detecting this quantum improvement. It is not feasible to distinguish such a black hole by most observables in the near future except for the apparent size of the shadow. We also note that directly using measured shadow of M87* to constrain this quantum effect requires great care.

scholarly journals The Nucleus of Our Home Galaxy: A Remnant of an Active or a Starburst Galaxy?

1994 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 351-354
Author(s):  
Leonid M. Ozernoy
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Radiation Spectrum ◽  
Seyfert Galaxy ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Starburst Galaxy ◽  
Formation History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Radio Band

To resolve the above dilemma, two essentially different approaches are undertaken: First, a new, detailed analysis of the entire radiation spectrum of Sgr A∗, from radio band up to gamma-rays, is reviewed, which enables us to put substantial constraints on the mass of a putative black hole. The derived upper limit turns out to be too small to allow the black hole to serve as an ‘engine’ for a Seyfert galaxy. Second, analyses of recent data on the 10 KeV gas in the central 200 pc and on star formation history at the Galactic center both make a star burst the likely episode in a recent past. Taken together, the two approaches seem to indicate that the history of the central part of our Galaxy can be better described as that of a starburst, rather than a Seyfert, galaxy.

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