Discovery of possible molecular counterparts to the infrared Double Helix Nebula in the galactic center

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/780/1/72· OSTI ID:22348287

Enokiya, R.; Torii, K.; Furuhashi, E.; Nakamura, K.; Yoshiike, S.; Sato, J.; Furukawa, N.; Moribe, N.; Ohama, A.; Sano, H.; Okamoto, R.; Mori, Y.; Hanaoka, N.; Hayakawa, T.; Okuda, T. ^[1]; Schultheis, M. ^[2]; Asahina, Y.; Matsumoto, R. ^[3]; Dobashi, K. ^[4]; others, and

---

1. Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602 (Japan)
2. Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de Côte d'Azur, Laboratoire Lagrange, BP4229, F-06304 Nice Cedex 4 (France)
3. Faculty of Science, Chiba University, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522 (Japan)
4. Department of Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Tokyo Gakugei University, Koganei 594-1, Tokyo 184-8501 (Japan)

We have discovered two molecular features at radial velocities of –35 km s{sup –1} and 0 km s{sup –1} toward the infrared Double Helix Nebula (DHN) in the Galactic center with NANTEN2. The two features show good spatial correspondence with the DHN. We have also found two elongated molecular ridges at these two velocities distributed vertically to the Galactic plane over 0.°8. The two ridges are linked by broad features in velocity and are likely connected physically with each other. The ratio between the {sup 12}CO J = 2-1 and J = 1-0 transitions is 0.8 in the ridges which is larger than the average value 0.5 in the foreground gas, suggesting the two ridges are in the Galactic center. An examination of the K band extinction reveals a good coincidence with the CO 0 km s{sup –1} ridge and is consistent with a distance of 8 ± 2 kpc. We discuss the possibility that the DHN was created by a magnetic phenomenon incorporating torsional Alfvén waves launched from the circum-nuclear disk and present a first estimate of the mass and energy involved in the DHN.

• OSTI ID: 22348287
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 780; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
CARBON MONOXIDE
DATA
DISTANCE
GALAXY NUCLEI
MASS
NEBULAE
RADIAL VELOCITY