The Motion of Stars near the Galactic Center: A Comparison of the Black Hole and Fermion Ball Scenarios
Year: 2002
Type: article
Abstract: After a discussion of the properties of degenerate fermion balls, we analyze the orbits of the stars S0-1 and S0-2, which have the smallest projected distances to Sgr A*, in the supermassive black hole as well as in the fermion ball scenarios of the Galactic center. It is shown that both scenarios are consistent with the data, as measured during the last 6 years by Genzel and coworkers and by Ghez and coworkers. The free parameters of the projected orbit of a star are the unknown components of its velocity v z and distance z to Sgr A* in 1995.4, with the z -axis being in the line of sight. We show, in the case of S0-1 and S0-2, that the z-v z phase space, which fits the data, is much larger for the fermion ball than for the black hole scenario. Future measurements of the positions or radial velocities of S0-1 and S0-2 could reduce this allowed phase space and eventually rule out one of the currently acceptable scenarios. This may shed some light on the nature of the supermassive compact dark object, or dark matter in general, at the center of our Galaxy.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/323949
Authors: Faustin Munyaneza, Raoul D. Viollier
Institution: University of Cape Town
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2079773369