A survey of the 158 micron forbidden C II fine-structure line in the central 50 parsecs of the Galaxy

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/186065· OSTI ID:5225501

Poglitsch, A; Geis, N; Haggerty, M; Jackson, J; Stacey, G J ^[1]

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1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik, Garching (Federal Republic of Germany) California, University, Berkeley (USA)

NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory has been used to conduct an extensive, velocity-resolved survey at 1-arcsec resolution of the 158-micron forbidden C II fine-structure line emission in the central 50 pc of the Galaxy. The emission is found to be strongest toward the rotating circumnuclear disk surrounding Sgr A West; a continuous bridge of the emission connects the Sgr A complex to the thermal radio filaments in the radio arc 10 arcmin north of the center. This suggests a direct physical connection. The brightest emission occurs preferentially near the edges of the massive Galactic center molecular clouds. It is concluded that these clouds are predominantly ionized by external UV photons. 29 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5225501
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 374; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
FINE STRUCTURE
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GASES
INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IONIZED GASES
MILKY WAY
RADIATIONS
SPACE
SPECTRA