Flares from Sgr A* and their Emission Mechanism

K. Dodds-Eden; D. Porquet; G. Trap; Eliot Quataert; S. Gillessen; N. Grosso; R. Genzel; A. Goldwurm; Farhad Y Zadeh

Flares from Sgr A* and their Emission Mechanism

K. Dodds-Eden, D. Porquet, G. Trap, Eliot Quataert, S. Gillessen, N. Grosso, R. Genzel, A. Goldwurm, Farhad Y Zadeh

Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

We summarize recent observations and modeling of the brightest Sgr A* flare to be observed simultaneously in (near)-infrared and X-rays to date. Trying to explain the spectral characteristics of this flare through inverse Compton mechanisms implies physical parameters that are unrealistic for Sgr A*. Instead, a “cooling break” synchrotron model provides a more feasible explanation for the X-ray emission. In a magnetic field of about 5-30 Gauss the X-ray emitting electrons cool very quickly on the typical dynamical timescale while the NIR-emitting electrons cool more slowly. This produces a spectral break in the model between NIR and X-ray wavelengths that can explain the differences in the observed spectral indices.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	The Galactic Center
Subtitle of host publication	a Window to the Nuclear Environment of Disk Galaxies
Editors	Mark R Morris, Q Daniel Wang, Feng Yuan
Publisher	Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Pages	309-312
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-58381-759-9
ISBN (Print)	978-1-58381-758-2
State	Published - 2011

Publication series

Name	Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series
Volume	439

Cite this

Dodds-Eden, K., Porquet, D., Trap, G., Quataert, E., Gillessen, S., Grosso, N., Genzel, R., Goldwurm, A., & Zadeh, F. Y. (2011). Flares from Sgr A* and their Emission Mechanism. In M. R. Morris, Q. D. Wang, & F. Yuan (Eds.), The Galactic Center: a Window to the Nuclear Environment of Disk Galaxies (pp. 309-312). (Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series; Vol. 439). Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

@inproceedings{c1cbb589886e418f982db2ed56289472,

title = "Flares from Sgr A* and their Emission Mechanism",

abstract = "We summarize recent observations and modeling of the brightest Sgr A* flare to be observed simultaneously in (near)-infrared and X-rays to date. Trying to explain the spectral characteristics of this flare through inverse Compton mechanisms implies physical parameters that are unrealistic for Sgr A*. Instead, a “cooling break” synchrotron model provides a more feasible explanation for the X-ray emission. In a magnetic field of about 5-30 Gauss the X-ray emitting electrons cool very quickly on the typical dynamical timescale while the NIR-emitting electrons cool more slowly. This produces a spectral break in the model between NIR and X-ray wavelengths that can explain the differences in the observed spectral indices.",

author = "K. Dodds-Eden and D. Porquet and G. Trap and Eliot Quataert and S. Gillessen and N. Grosso and R. Genzel and A. Goldwurm and Zadeh, {Farhad Y}",

year = "2011",

language = "English (US)",

isbn = "978-1-58381-758-2",

series = "Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series",

publisher = "Astronomical Society of the Pacific",

pages = "309--312",

editor = "Morris, {Mark R} and Wang, {Q Daniel} and Yuan, {Feng }",

booktitle = "The Galactic Center",

}

Dodds-Eden, K, Porquet, D, Trap, G, Quataert, E, Gillessen, S, Grosso, N, Genzel, R, Goldwurm, A & Zadeh, FY 2011, Flares from Sgr A* and their Emission Mechanism. in MR Morris, QD Wang & F Yuan (eds), The Galactic Center: a Window to the Nuclear Environment of Disk Galaxies. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, vol. 439, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, pp. 309-312.

Flares from Sgr A* and their Emission Mechanism. / Dodds-Eden, K.; Porquet, D.; Trap, G. et al.
The Galactic Center: a Window to the Nuclear Environment of Disk Galaxies. ed. / Mark R Morris; Q Daniel Wang; Feng Yuan. Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2011. p. 309-312 (Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series; Vol. 439).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Flares from Sgr A* and their Emission Mechanism

AU - Dodds-Eden, K.

AU - Porquet, D.

AU - Trap, G.

AU - Quataert, Eliot

AU - Gillessen, S.

AU - Grosso, N.

AU - Genzel, R.

AU - Goldwurm, A.

AU - Zadeh, Farhad Y

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - We summarize recent observations and modeling of the brightest Sgr A* flare to be observed simultaneously in (near)-infrared and X-rays to date. Trying to explain the spectral characteristics of this flare through inverse Compton mechanisms implies physical parameters that are unrealistic for Sgr A*. Instead, a “cooling break” synchrotron model provides a more feasible explanation for the X-ray emission. In a magnetic field of about 5-30 Gauss the X-ray emitting electrons cool very quickly on the typical dynamical timescale while the NIR-emitting electrons cool more slowly. This produces a spectral break in the model between NIR and X-ray wavelengths that can explain the differences in the observed spectral indices.

AB - We summarize recent observations and modeling of the brightest Sgr A* flare to be observed simultaneously in (near)-infrared and X-rays to date. Trying to explain the spectral characteristics of this flare through inverse Compton mechanisms implies physical parameters that are unrealistic for Sgr A*. Instead, a “cooling break” synchrotron model provides a more feasible explanation for the X-ray emission. In a magnetic field of about 5-30 Gauss the X-ray emitting electrons cool very quickly on the typical dynamical timescale while the NIR-emitting electrons cool more slowly. This produces a spectral break in the model between NIR and X-ray wavelengths that can explain the differences in the observed spectral indices.

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-1-58381-758-2

T3 - Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series

SP - 309

EP - 312

BT - The Galactic Center

A2 - Morris, Mark R

A2 - Wang, Q Daniel

A2 - Yuan, Feng

PB - Astronomical Society of the Pacific

ER -

Flares from Sgr A* and their Emission Mechanism

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