Is the SGR B2 Cloud an X-ray Reflection Nebula?

Details Is the SGR B2 Cloud an X-ray Reflection Nebula? Is the SGR B2 Cloud an X-ray Reflection Nebula?

Jun 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999aspc..186..586m&link_type=abstract

The Central Parsecs of the Galaxy, ASP Conference Series, Vol. 186. Edited by Heino Falcke, Angela Cotera, Wolfgang J. Duschl, F

Physics

Scientific paper

We present the ASCA results of imaging spectroscopy of the giant molecular cloud Sgr B2. We found very peculiar features in this cloud; a strong 6.4-keV line emission, a low energy cutoff below 4 keV and a pronounced edge-structure at 7.1 keV. The X-ray image is extended and its peak position is shifted from the core of the molecular cloud toward the Galactic Center by about 1--2'. The X-ray spectrum and the morphology are well reproduced by a scenario where X-rays from an external source located in the Galactic Center direction are scattered by the molecular cloud Sgr B2, and come into our line of sight. Thus Sgr B2 is a new type of X-ray object, which may be called an ``X-ray reflection nebula''. The luminosity of the irradiating source is required to be >=1038 erg s-1, but no source has enough brightness. One possibility is that within the recent past, perhaps a few hundred years ago, Sgr A* was very luminous, and we are observing the ``reflected'' X-rays at present.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Is the SGR B2 Cloud an X-ray Reflection Nebula? 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 Is the SGR B2 Cloud an X-ray Reflection Nebula?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Is the SGR B2 Cloud an X-ray Reflection Nebula? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1498177