The thermal, arched filaments of the radio arc near the Galactic center - magnetohydrodynamic-induced ionization

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167742· OSTI ID:5475402

Morris, M; Yusef-Zadeh, F ^[1]

---

1. California Univ., Los Angeles (USA)

This paper presents a detailed observational study of the most prominent thermal component of the radio Arc located near the Galactic center, the 'arched filaments'. Images produced from data gathered at 6 and 20 cm reveal that the arched filaments have a wispy, flocculent character that is quite different from the uniform, continuous, and almost straight filaments of the nonthermal portion of the Arc. The two systems of filaments show clear signs of interaction at their intersection. There is no evidence from the radio maps that the arched filaments are linked to the Galactic nucleus. Various ideas for the ionization mechanism of the arched filaments are considered. It is suggested that the ionization is caused by a magnetohydrodynamic interaction between a molecular cloud with a large peculiar velocity and an ambient poloidal magnetic field of milligauss strength. 50 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5475402
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 343; 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
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GASES
HYDRODYNAMICS
INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IONIZATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAPS
MECHANICS
MILKY WAY
MORPHOLOGY
NEBULAE
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPACE