Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2001-08-22
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
10 pages, AASTeX 5.01 LaTeX2e; 7 figures in 9 PostScript files; scheduled for publication in the 2001 December 10, v. 563 issu
Scientific paper
10.1086/323793
We report the discovery of a system of isolated nonthermal filaments approximately 0.5 deg. northwest (75 pc in projection) of Sgr A. Unlike other isolated nonthermal filaments which show subfilamentation, braiding of subfilaments, and flaring at their ends, these filaments are simple linear structures and more closely resemble the parallel bundled filaments in the Galactic center radio arc. However, the most unusual feature of these filaments is that the 20/90 cm spectral index uniformly decreases as a function of length, in contrast to all other nonthermal filaments in the Galactic center. This spectral gradient may not be due to simple particle aging but could be explained by a curved electron energy spectrum embedded in a diverging magnetic field. If so, the scale of the magnetic gradient is not consistent with a large scale magnetic field centered on Sgr A* suggesting that this filament system is tracing a local magnetic field.
Kassim Namir E.
LaRosa Ted N.
Lazio Joseph T. W.
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