Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2002-02-23
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
14 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, accepted for publications in ApJ Letter
Scientific paper
10.1086/340379
The Galactic center region near l$\approx0.2^0$ hosts a mixture of nonthermal linear filaments and thermal radio continuum features associated with the radio Arc. Chandra observations of this region reveal an X-ray filament and diffuse emission with an extent of roughly 60$''\times2''$ and 5$'\times3'$, respectively. The X-ray filament lies at the edge of the nonthermal radio filaments and a dense molecular shell G0.13-0.13 that has an unusually high kinetic temperature $\ge$70K. These observations demonstrate that the G0.13--0.13 molecular cloud and the nonthermal radio filaments of the Arc are interacting. The diffuse X-ray emission is correlated with the molecular shell and is fitted either by two-temperature (1 and 10 keV) thermal emission or by power-law and 1 keV thermal gas. Fluorescent 6.4 keV line emission is also detected throughout the molecular shell. This cloud coincides within the error circle of a steady unidentified EGRET source 3EGJ1746--2851. We argue that low-energy cosmic ray electrons (LECRe) produce the power-law continuum by bremsstrahlung and 6.4 keV line emission from the filament and the diffuse cloud with the implication on the origin of the Galactic ridge X-ray emission. The strong 6.4 keV Fe-line emission seen from other Galactic center clouds could be produced in a similar fashion rather than via fluorescent emission induced by a transient hard X-ray source in the Galactic center. In addition, heating by ionization induced by LECRe are also responsible for the high temperature of G0.13-0.13. The gamma-ray source is a result of brehmsstrahlung by the high-energy tail of the electron energy distribution.
Law Colin Christian
Wardle Mark
Yusef-Zadeh Farah
No associations
LandOfFree
The Origin of X-ray Emission from a Galactic Center Molecular Cloud: Low Energy Cosmic Ray Electrons does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Origin of X-ray Emission from a Galactic Center Molecular Cloud: Low Energy Cosmic Ray Electrons, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Origin of X-ray Emission from a Galactic Center Molecular Cloud: Low Energy Cosmic Ray Electrons will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-308005