Work

A past capture event at Sagittarius A* inferred from the fluorescent X-ray emission of Sagittarius B clouds

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: The fluorescent X-ray emission from neutral iron in the molecular clouds [Sagittarius (Sgr) B] indicates that the clouds are being irradiated by an external X-ray source. The source is probably associated with the Galactic central black hole (Sgr A*), which triggered a bright outburst 100 yr ago. We suggest that such an outburst could be due to a partial capture of a star by Sgr A*, during which a jet was generated. Using constraints from the observed flux and the time variability (∼10 yr) of the Sgr B fluorescent emission, we find that the shock produced by the interaction of the jet with the dense interstellar medium represents a plausible candidate for the X-ray source emission.

Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17826.x

Authors: Yun-Wei Yu, K. S. Cheng, D. O. Chernyshov, V. A. Dogiel

Institutions: Central China Normal University, University of Hong Kong, P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Science Council, Russian Foundation for Basic Research

OpenAlex ID: W1924917283