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 ◽  
...  

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$^{\ast }$.

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (S322) ◽  
pp. 21-24
Author(s):  
Elena Murchikova

AbstractThe submm Hydrogen recombination line technique can be used as a probe of the Galactic Center. We present the results of our H30α observations of ionized gas from within 0.015 pc around SgrA*. The observations were obtained on ALMA in cycle 3. The line was not detected, but we were able to set a limit on the mass of the cool gas (T~ 104 K) at 2 × 10−3M⊙. This is the unique probe of gas cooler than T ~106 K traced by X-ray emission. The total amount of gas near SgrA* gives us clues to understanding the accretion rate of SgrA*.


Author(s):  
Masato Tsuboi ◽  
Yoshimi Kitamura ◽  
Takahiro Tsutsumi ◽  
Ryosuke Miyawaki ◽  
Makoto Miyoshi ◽  
...  

Abstract We detected a compact ionized gas associated physically with IRS13E3, an intermediate mass black hole (IMBH) candidate in the Galactic center, in the continuum emission at 232 GHz and H30α recombination line using ALMA Cy.5 observation (2017.1.00503.S, P.I. M.Tsuboi). The continuum emission image shows that IRS13E3 is surrounded by an oval-like structure. The angular size is 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$093 ± 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$006 × 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$061 ± 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$004 (1.14 × 1016 cm × 0.74 × 1016 cm). The structure is also identified in the H30α recombination line. This is seen as an inclined linear feature in the position–velocity diagram, which is usually a defining characteristic of a rotating gas ring around a large mass. The gas ring has a rotating velocity of Vrot ≃ 230 km s−1 and an orbit radius of r ≃ 6 × 1015 cm. From these orbit parameters, the enclosed mass is estimated to be $M_{\mathrm{IMBH}}\simeq 2.4\times 10^{4}\, M_{\odot }$. The mass is within the astrometric upper limit mass of the object adjacent to Sgr A*. Considering IRS13E3 has an X-ray counterpart, the large enclosed mass would be supporting evidence that IRS13E3 is an IMBH. Even if a dense cluster corresponds to IRS13E3, the cluster would collapse into an IMBH within τ < 107 yr due to the very high mass density of $\rho \gtrsim 8\times 10^{11}\, M_{\odot }\:$pc−3. Because the orbital period is estimated to be as short as T = 2πr/Vrot ∼ 50–100 yr, the morphology of the observed ionized gas ring is expected to be changed in the next several decades. The mean electron temperature and density of the ionized gas are $\bar{T}_{\mathrm{e}}=6800\pm 700\:$K and $\bar{n}_{\mathrm{e}}=6\times 10^{5}\:$cm−3, respectively. Then the mass of the ionized gas is estimated to be $M_{\mathrm{gas}}=4\times 10^{-4}\, M_{\odot }$.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (S322) ◽  
pp. 115-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masato Tsuboi ◽  
Yoshimi Kitamura ◽  
Kenta Uehara ◽  
Ryosuke Miyawaki ◽  
Atsushi Miyazaki

AbstractWe found a molecular cloud connecting from the outer region to the “Galactic Center Mini-spiral (GCMS)” which is a bundle of the ionized gas streams adjacent to Sgr A*. The molecular cloud has a filamentary appearance which is prominent in the CSJ=2-1 emission line and is continuously connected with the GCMS. The velocity of the molecular cloud is also continuously connected with that of the ionized gas in the GCMS observed in the H42α recombination line. The morphological and kinematic relations suggest that the molecular cloud is falling from the outer region to the vicinity of Sgr A*, being disrupted by the tidal shear of Sgr A* and ionized by UV emission from the Central Cluster. We also found the SiOJ=2-1 emission in the boundary area between the filamentary molecular cloud and the GCMS. There seems to exist shocked gas in the boundary area.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 344-348
Author(s):  
M. Clavel ◽  
R. Terrier ◽  
A. Goldwurm ◽  
M. R. Morris ◽  
G. Ponti ◽  
...  

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.


1989 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Yusef-Zadeh ◽  
Mark Morris ◽  
J. H. van Gorkom

The H92αrecombination line was observed at 8 GHz toward the “pistol-shaped” HII region G0.15–0.05 using the VLA2in its most compact configuration. The line profiles of individual components of this source peak at VLSR=123 km/s and have total line widths of ~90 km/s. The kinematical structure of the “pistol” is unusual in that much of the neutral and ionized gas in this region is seen predominantly at either +50 or +20 km/s. The line width and radial velocity are the largest found in the Galactic center region with the exception of Sgr A West. We also found gas at VLSR=140 km/s associated with G0.18–0.04: the sickle-shaped feature which surrounds G0.15–0.05. The kinematic properties of G0.18–0.04 and G0.15–0.05 suggest that these two features are components of a single, but complex thermal system interacting with the nonthermal filaments of the radio Arc. In this regard, the width of the broad recombination line from G0.15–0.05, and its large radial velocity, might be explained as the interaction of streaming relativistic particles in the nonthermal filaments of the Arc impacting upon ambient gas clouds lying in the Galactic plane.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 147-149
Author(s):  
L. O. Sjouwerman ◽  
Y. M. Pihlström

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 318-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Fragile ◽  
P. Anninos ◽  
S. D. Murray

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.


1989 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 159-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. Anantharamaiah ◽  
Farhad Yusef-Zadeh

Preliminary results of a systematic survey of H78α, H91α and H98β emission from the inner 40′ of the Galactic center region are presented. This region consists of two prominent continuum features, the Sgr A complex and the radio continuum Arc. In spite of much nonthermal emission arising from these two features, we detected strong line emission with large line widths in more than half of the observed 130 positions. Many of the detections are new, in particular −50 km s−1 ionized gas linking the Sgr A complex and the Arc, β line emission from GO.1+0.08 (the arched filaments), and α line emission from the loop-like structures which surround the non-thermal filaments near G0.2−0.05. We find that much of the detected lines are probably associated with the −50 km s−1 and the 20 km s−1 molecular clouds, known to lie near the Galactic center. We present line profiles of a number of Galactic center sources including Sgr B1, Sgr C and Sgr D.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S287) ◽  
pp. 449-454
Author(s):  
Loránt O. Sjouwerman ◽  
Ylva M. Pihlström

AbstractWe report on 36 and 44 GHz Class I methanol (CH3OH) maser emission in the Sagittarius A (Sgr A) region with the Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA). At least three different maser transitions tracing shocked regions in the cm-wave radio regime can be found in Sgr A. 44 GHz masers correlate with the positions and velocities of 36 GHz CH3OH masers, but the methanol masers correlate less with 1720 MHz OH masers. Our results 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 cooler or denser conditions. We speculate that the geometry of the bright 36 GHz masers in Sgr A East outlines the location of a SNR shock front.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document