How maser observations unravel the gas motions in the Galactic Center

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S336) ◽  
pp. 176-179
Author(s):  
K. Immer ◽  
M. Reid ◽  
A. Brunthaler ◽  
K. Menten ◽  
Q. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Line ◽  
Proper Motion ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Orbital Dynamics ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Kinematic Structure ◽  
3D Motion ◽  
Motion Measurements

AbstractThe Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), the inner 450 pc of our Galaxy, is an exceptional region where the volume and column densities, gas temperatures, velocity dispersions, etc. are much higher than in the Galactic plane. It has been suggested that the formation of stars and clusters in this area is related to the orbital dynamics of the gas. The complex kinematic structure of the molecular gas was revealed by spectral line observations. However, these results are limited to the line-of-sight-velocities. To fully understand the motions of the gas within the CMZ, we have to know its location in 6D space (3D location + 3D motion). Recent orbital models have tried to explain the inflow of gas towards and its kinematics within this region. With parallax and proper motion measurements of masers in the CMZ we can discriminate among these models and constrain how our Galactic Center is fed with gas.

scholarly journals Detailed distributions of the CO J = (2 − 1)/J = (1 − 0) intensity ratios toward a large area of the central molecular zone

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 106-108
Author(s):  
Kazufumi Torii ◽  
Rei Enokiya ◽  
Yasuo Fukui ◽  
Hiroaki Yamamoto ◽  
Akiko Kawamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Angular Resolution ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Area Coverage ◽  
High Angular Resolution ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Large Area ◽  
First Results ◽  
Intensity Ratios ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractWe present the first results of the new CO J = (2 − 1) observations toward the central molecular zone (CMZ) using the NANTEN2 telescope at an angular resolution of 100″. Large area coverage of 4° × 2° in l and b and a high angular resolution of 100″ enable us to investigate detailed structures of the molecular gas in the CMZ including peculiar molecular filaments perpendicularly to the Galactic plane to b > |0.5°|. The major components of the CMZ, e.g., Sgr A, Sgr B and Sgr C cloud complexes, show high CO J = (2 − 1)/J = (1 − 0) ratios around 0.9, indicating highly excited conditions of the molecular gas, while the local foreground components show less than 0.4. The molecular filaments show the typical ratios of 0.6–0.7 indicate that they are indeed located in the Galactic center.

scholarly journals Histogram of oriented gradients: a technique for the study of molecular cloud formation

2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A166 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Soler ◽  
H. Beuther ◽  
M. Rugel ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
P. C. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Line ◽  
Spatial Correlation ◽  
Molecular Cloud ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Cloud Formation ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Histogram Of Oriented Gradients ◽  
Spatial Correlations ◽  
Mhd Turbulence ◽  
Physical Conditions

We introduce the histogram of oriented gradients (HOG), a tool developed for machine vision that we propose as a new metric for the systematic characterization of spectral line observations of atomic and molecular gas and the study of molecular cloud formation models. In essence, the HOG technique takes as input extended spectral-line observations from two tracers and provides an estimate of their spatial correlation across velocity channels. We characterized HOG using synthetic observations of HI and 13CO (J = 1 → 0) emission from numerical simulations of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence leading to the formation of molecular gas after the collision of two atomic clouds. We found a significant spatial correlation between the two tracers in velocity channels where vHI ≈ v13CO, almost independent of the orientation of the collision with respect to the line of sight. Subsequently, we used HOG to investigate the spatial correlation of the HI, from The HI/OH/recombination line survey of the inner Milky Way (THOR), and the 13CO (J = 1 → 0) emission from the Galactic Ring Survey (GRS), toward the portion of the Galactic plane 33°.75 ≤l ≤ 35°.25 and |b| ≤ 1°.25. We found a significant spatial correlation between the two tracers in extended portions of the studied region. Although some of the regions with high spatial correlation are associated with HI self-absorption (HISA) features, suggesting that it is produced by the cold atomic gas, the correlation is not exclusive to this kind of region. The HOG results derived for the observational data indicate significant differences between individual regions: some show spatial correlation in channels around vHI ≈ v13CO while others present spatial correlations in velocity channels separated by a few kilometers per second. We associate these velocity offsets to the effect of feedback and to the presence of physical conditions that are not included in the atomic-cloud-collision simulations, such as more general magnetic field configurations, shear, and global gas infall.

New VIRAC proper motion maps show signature of galactic boxy/peanut bulge

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S353) ◽  
pp. 29-30
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Clarke ◽  
Christopher Wegg ◽  
Ortwin Gerhard ◽  
Leigh C. Smith ◽  
Phil W. Lucas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proper Motion ◽  
Dynamical Model ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Selection Function ◽  
Kinematic Structure ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Galactic Bulge ◽  
Bulge Region ◽  
Pattern Speed ◽  
Red Clump

AbstractWe have derived absolute proper motions of stars in the Galactic bulge region combining the VVV InfraRed Astrometric Catalogue (VIRAC) and Gaia. We use the proper motions to study the kinematic structure of the bulge both integrated along the line-of-sight and in magnitude intervals using red clump stars as standard candles. In parallel we compare to a made-to-measure barred dynamical model, folding in the VIRAC selection function, to understand and interpret the structures that we observe. The barred dynamical model, which contains a boxy/peanut bulge, and has a pattern speed of 37.5 kms−1 kpc−1, is able to reproduce all structures impressively well.

scholarly journals Accurate mass estimates from the proper motions of dispersion-supported galaxies

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (4) ◽  
pp. 5825-5837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandres Lazar ◽  
James S Bullock
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Proper Motion ◽  
Cold Dark Matter ◽  
Dwarf Galaxy ◽  
Tangential Velocity ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Characteristic Radius ◽  
Motion Measurements ◽  
Rule Out

ABSTRACT We derive a new mass estimator that relies on internal proper motion measurements of dispersion-supported stellar systems, one that is distinct and complementary to existing estimators for line-of-sight velocities. Starting with the spherical Jeans equation, we show that there exists a radius where the mass enclosed depends only on the projected tangential velocity dispersion, assuming that the anisotropy profile slowly varies. This is well-approximated at the radius where the log-slope of the stellar tracer profile is −2: r−2. The associated mass is $M(r_{-2}) = 2 G^{-1} \langle \sigma _{\mathcal {T}}^{2}\rangle ^{*} r_{-2}$ and the circular velocity is $V^{2}({r_{-2}}) = 2\langle \sigma _{\mathcal {T}}^{2}\rangle ^{*}$. For a Plummer profile r−2 ≃ 4Re/5. Importantly, r−2 is smaller than the characteristic radius for line-of-sight velocities derived by Wolf et al. Together, the two estimators can constrain the mass profiles of dispersion-supported galaxies. We illustrate its applicability using published proper motion measurements of dwarf galaxies Draco and Sculptor, and find that they are consistent with inhabiting cuspy NFW subhaloes of the kind predicted in CDM but we cannot rule out a core. We test our combined mass estimators against previously published, non-spherical cosmological dwarf galaxy simulations done in both cold dark matter (CDM; naturally cuspy profile) and self-interacting dark matter (SIDM; cored profile). For CDM, the estimates for the dynamic rotation curves are found to be accurate to $10\rm { per\, cent}$ while SIDM are accurate to $15\rm { per\, cent}$. Unfortunately, this level of accuracy is not good enough to measure slopes at the level required to distinguish between cusps and cores of the type predicted in viable SIDM models without stronger priors. However, we find that this provides good enough accuracy to distinguish between the normalization differences predicted at small radii (r ≃ r−2 < rcore) for interesting SIDM models. As the number of galaxies with internal proper motions increases, mass estimators of this kind will enable valuable constraints on SIDM and CDM models.

scholarly journals Absolute proper motions of water masers in NGC 281 measured with VERA

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S242) ◽  
pp. 170-171
Author(s):  
Mayumi Sato ◽  
Tomoya Hirota ◽  
Mareki Honma ◽  
Hideyuki Kobayashi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Velocity ◽  
Proper Motion ◽  
Molecular Cloud ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Supernova Explosions ◽  
Motion Measurements ◽  
Water Masers

AbstractWe report on absolute proper-motion measurements of H2O maser features in the NGC 281 West molecular cloud, located ~320 pc above the Galactic plane and associated with an HI loop extending from the Galactic plane. We conducted six-epoch phase-referencing observations of the maser source with VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry) over six months since May 2006. The H2O maser features are found to be systematically moving toward the southwest and further away from the Galactic plane with a vertical velocity of ~20–30 km s−1 at its estimated distance of 2.2–3.5 kpc. Our new results provide the most direct evidence that the gas in the NGC 281 region was blown out from the Galactic plane, most likely in a superbubble driven by multiple or sequential supernova explosions in the Galactic plane.

scholarly journals Molecular loops in the Galactic centre; evidence for magnetic floatation accelerating molecular gas

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S237) ◽  
pp. 501-501
Author(s):  
H. Yamamoto ◽  
Y. Fukui ◽  
M. Fujishita ◽  
K. Torii ◽  
N. Kudo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Scale Height ◽  
Galactic Centre ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Molecular Image ◽  
Velocity Gradients ◽  
Large Velocity ◽  
Loop 2

The new molecular image obtained by NANTEN telescope in the galactic center has revealed the existence of the two loop like structures, loop 1 and loop 2, which have never been seen before toward l = 355° to 358°. The velocities of loop 1 and loop 2 are −180 to −90 km s−1 and −90 and −40 km s−1, respectively, and these two loops have strong velocity gradients. The foot points of the loops show a very broad linewidth of ~40 to 80 km s−1 whose large velocity spans are characteristic of the molecular gas near the galactic center. Therefore, we classified the loops as being located in the galactic center and adopt a distance of 8.5 kpc. Then, the projected lengths of loop 1 and loop 2 were estimated as ~500 and ~300 pc, respectively and velocity gradients corresponds to ~80 km s−1 per 250 pc along loop 1 and ~60 km s−1 per 150 pc along loop 2. The heights of these loops are also estimated as ~220 to ~300 pc from the galactic plane, significantly higher than the typical scale height in the nuclear disk.

scholarly journals Arcminute-scale studies of the interstellar gas towards HESS J1804−216: Still an unidentified TeV γ-ray source

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsty Feijen ◽  
Gavin Rowell ◽  
Sabrina Einecke ◽  
Catherine Braiding ◽  
Michael G. Burton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Supernova Remnant ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Dispersion Measure ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Interstellar Gas ◽  
Isotropic Diffusion ◽  
Unidentified Source ◽  
Using Data

Abstract The Galactic TeV ${\gamma}$ -ray source ${\mathrm{HESS\,J}1804{-}216}$ is currently an unidentified source. In an attempt to unveil its origin, we present here the most detailed study of interstellar gas using data from the Mopra Southern Galactic Plane CO Survey, 7- and 12-mm wavelength Mopra surveys and Southern Galactic Plane Survey of HI. Several components of atomic and molecular gas are found to overlap ${\mathrm{HESS\,J}1804{-}216}$ at various velocities along the line of sight. The CS(1-0) emission clumps confirm the presence of dense gas. Both correlation and anti-correlation between the gas and TeV ${\gamma}$ -ray emission have been identified in various gas tracers, enabling several origin scenarios for the TeV ${\gamma}$ -ray emission from ${\mathrm{HESS\,J}1804{-}216}$ . For a hadronic scenario, ${\mathrm{SNR\,G}8.7{-}0.1}$ and the progenitor supernova remnant (SNR) of ${\mathrm{PSR\,J}1803{-}2137}$ require cosmic ray (CR) enhancement factors of ${\mathord{\sim} 50}$ times the solar neighbour CR flux value to produce the TeV ${\gamma}$ -ray emission. Assuming an isotropic diffusion model, CRs from both these SNRs require a slow diffusion coefficient, as found for other TeV SNRs associated with adjacent ISM gas. The morphology of gas located at 3.8 kpc (the dispersion measure distance to ${\mathrm{PSR\,J}1803{-}2137}$ ) tends to anti-correlate with features of the TeV emission from ${\mathrm{HESS\,J}1804{-}216}$ , making the leptonic scenario possible. Both pure hadronic and pure leptonic scenarios thus remain plausible.

scholarly journals New ultracool dwarf neighbours within 20 pc from Gaia DR2

2020 ◽  
Vol 637 ◽  
pp. A45
Author(s):  
R.-D. Scholz
Keyword(s):  
Proper Motion ◽  
Visual Inspection ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Magnitude Diagram ◽  
Motion Measurements ◽  
Moving Groups ◽  
Absolute Magnitudes ◽  
Gaia Dr2

Aims. The Gaia data release 2 (DR2) contains > 6000 objects with parallaxes (Plx + 3 × e_Plx) > 50 mas, placing them within 20 pc from the Sun. Because the expected numbers based on extrapolating the well-known 10 pc census are much lower, nearby Gaia stars need a quality assessment. The 20 pc sample of white dwarfs (WDs) has been verified and completed with Gaia DR2. We here confirm and complete the 20 pc sample of ultracool dwarfs (UCDs) with spectral types ≳M7 and given Gaia DR2 parallaxes. Methods. Dividing the Gaia DR2 20 pc sample into subsamples of various astrometric and photometric quality, we studied their distribution on the sky, in the MG versus G − RP colour-magnitude diagram (CMD), and as a function of G magnitude and total proper motion. After excluding 139 known WDs and 263 known UCDs from the CMD, we checked all remaining ≈3500 candidates with MG >  14 mag (used to define UCDs in this study) for the correctness of their Gaia DR2 proper motions by visual inspection of finder charts, comparison with proper motion catalogues, and comparison with our own proper motion measurements. For confirmed UCD candidates we estimated spectral types photometrically using Gaia and near-infrared absolute magnitudes and colours. Results. We failed to confirm new WDs, but found 50 new UCD candidates that are not mentioned in three previous studies using Gaia DR2. They have relatively small proper motions and low tangential velocities and are concentrated towards the Galactic plane. Half of them have spectral types in SIMBAD and/or previous non-Gaia distance estimates that placed them already within 20 pc. For 20 of the 50 objects, we estimated photometric spectral types of M6−M6.5, slightly below the classical UCD spectral type limit. However, seven L4.5−L6.5, four L0−L1, five M8.5−M9.5, and three M7−M8 dwarfs can be considered as completely new UCDs discoveries within 20 pc based on Gaia DR2. Four M6.5 and two L4.5 dwarfs have high membership probabilities (64%−99%) in the ARGUS, AB Doradus, or Carina Near young moving groups.

scholarly journals The Galactic Distribution of Pulsars

1981 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
pp. 423-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Lyne
Keyword(s):  
Electron Density ◽  
Proper Motion ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Galactic Population ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Motion Measurements ◽  
High Space ◽  
Galactic Distribution

The galactic distribution of pulsars follows the general form of many population I objects in galactocentric radius, but has a wide distribution above and below the galactic plane due to high space velocities imparted to the pulsars at birth. The evidence for this model is described and the various factors involved in estimating the total galactic population and the galactic birthrate of pulsars are discussed. The various estimates of the galactic population which cluster around 5 × 105 are seen to be critically dependent upon the cut-off at low luminosities and upon the value of the mean electron density within 500 pc of the Earth. Estimates of the lifetimes of pulsars are available from both the characteristic ages and proper motion measurements and both give values of about 5 million years. The implied birthrate of one in every 10 years is barely compatible with most estimates of the galactic supernova rate.

scholarly journals Large-Scale Ejection Structures in the Galactic Center

1989 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 213-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Sofue
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Energy Release ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Unusual Manifestation ◽  
Continuum Structures ◽  
The Continuum

Radio continuum observations of the galactic center region have revealed a number of vertical structures running across the galactic plane, most of which are reasonably attributed either to vertical magnetic fields or to energy release out of the galactic plane. We review the observed radio structures and discuss their properties and origins with a particular attention to the unusual manifestation of energy release in the galactic center. The relation of the continuum structures to the expanding and/or contracting molecular gas rings is also discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document