A 3 pc SCALE JET-DRIVEN OUTFLOW FROM SGR A*
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 (United States)
- CRESST/UMBC/NASA GSFC, Code 665, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (United States)
- Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (United States)
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, MD 20742 (United States)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW 2109 (Australia)
The compact radio source Sgr A* is coincident with a 4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 6} M{sub Sun} black hole at the dynamical center of the Galaxy and is surrounded by dense orbiting ionized and molecular gas. We present high-resolution radio continuum images of the central 3' and report a faint continuous linear structure centered on Sgr A* with a P.A. {approx} 60 Degree-Sign . The extension of this feature appears to be terminated symmetrically by two linearly polarized structures at 8.4 GHz, {approx}75'' from Sgr A*. A number of weak blobs of radio emission with X-ray counterparts are detected along the axis of the linear structure. The linear structure is best characterized by a mildly relativistic jet from Sgr A* with an outflow rate 10{sup -6} M{sub Sun} yr{sup -1}. The near and far sides of the jet are interacting with orbiting ionized and molecular gas over the last 1-3 hundred years and are responsible for a 2'' hole, the 'minicavity', characterized by disturbed kinematics, enhanced Fe II/III line emission, and diffuse X-ray gas. The estimated kinetic luminosity of the outflow is {approx}1.2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 41} erg s{sup -1}, so the interaction with the bar may be responsible for the Galactic center X-ray flash inferred to be responsible for much of the fluorescent Fe K{alpha} line emission from the inner 100 pc of the Galaxy.
- OSTI ID:
- 22078499
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 758, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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