A 3pc scale jet-driven outflow from SGR A*

F. Yusef-Zadeh*, R. Arendt, H. Bushouse, W. Cotton, D. Haggard, M. W. Pound, D. A. Roberts, Marc Justin Royster, M. Wardle

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

The compact radio source Sgr A* is coincident with a 4 × 106 M 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. 60°. The extension of this feature appears to be terminated symmetrically by two linearly polarized structures at 8.4GHz, 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 10-6 M yr-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 1.2 × 1041ergs-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 Kα line emission from the inner 100pc of the Galaxy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL11
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume758
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 10 2012

Keywords

  • accretion, accretion disks black hole physics Galaxy
  • center

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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