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Far-infrared spectroscopy of the galactic center - Neutral and ionized gas in the central 10 parsecs of the GalaxyThe present mapping of the 3P1-3P2 fine structure line emission from neutral atomic oxygen near the galactic center shows the emission to be extended over more than 12 pc along the galactic plane, centered on the position of Sgr A West. The rotational velocity of the O I gas at R of about 1 corresponds to a mass within the central parsec of about 3 million solar masses. The forbidden O I line probably arises in a predominantly neutral atomic region immediately outside the ionized central parsec of the Galaxy. Gas temperatures are greater than 100 K, and the total integrated luminosity radiated in the line, which is about 100,000 solar luminosities, substantially contributes to the cooling of the gas. The 3P1-3P0 fine structure line of the O III forbidden line has also been detected at 88 microns toward Sgr A West, coming from high density ionized gas.
Document ID
19840039133
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Genzel, R.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Watson, D. M.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Townes, C. H.
(California, University Berkeley, CA, United States)
Dinerstein, H. L.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Hollenbach, D.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Lester, D. F.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Werner, M.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Storey, J. W. V.
(Anglo-Australian Observatory Epping, New South Wales, Australia)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 15, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 276
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
84A21920
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-003-511
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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