Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 1984
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1984mnras.210..565g&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (ISSN 0035-8711), vol. 210, Oct. 1, 1984, p. 565-575. Research supported by th
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
65
Galactic Nuclei, Galactic Structure, Hydrogen Clouds, Infrared Astronomy, Milky Way Galaxy, Molecular Clouds, Astronomical Models, Emission Spectra, H Lines, Infrared Spectra, Shock Heating
Scientific paper
Observations of molecular hydrogen emission lines near 2 μm show that the nucleus of the Galaxy is encircled by a ring of shocked gas; this ring has a radius of 2 parsecs, lies in the plane of the Galaxy, is symmetric about the centre of mass, and rotates in the sense of galactic rotation. Gas is being shocked at a rate of >10-2M_sun;yr-1, to a temperature about 2000K, in a region of mean molecular density 5×103cm-3. The momentum needed to shock the gas cannot be provided radiatively. Mass loss from the nucleus can account naturally for the central density minimum and for the shocked gas; a mass loss rate of 3×10-3M_sun;yr-1 is required. Simple time-scale arguments suggest that observable molecular hydrogen emission from the galactic centre may be a long-lived phenomenon. A model involving a single central engine is suggested.
Beattie D. H.
Gatley Ian
Hyland A. R.
Jones Terry J.
Lee Jessica T.
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