Title: Observations of the motion and distribution of the ionized gas in the central parsec of the Galaxy. II
Abstract:view Abstract Citations (228) References (34) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Observations of the motion and distribution of the ionized gas in the cen...view Abstract Citations (228) References (34) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Observations of the motion and distribution of the ionized gas in the central parsec of the Galaxy. II. Lacy, J. H. ; Townes, C. H. ; Geballe, T. R. ; Hollenbach, D. J. Abstract Observations of infrared fine-structure line emission from compact clouds of ionized gas within Sgr A West are presented. These clouds have diameters of 0.1-0.5 pc, internal velocity dispersions of 100 km/s (FWHM), and line center velocities up to + or - 260 km/s. Their masses are not accurately determined but are probably between 0.1 and 10 solar masses. They are ionized by radiation like that of stars of effective temperature not greater than 35,000 K. The clouds are shown to have lifetimes of 10,000 yr and so must be generated and dissipated at a rate of a few per 1000 yr. From analysis of the distribution of the velocities of the clouds, a most probable mass distribution is derived which includes a central pointlike mass of several x 10 to the 6th solar masses in addition to several x 10 to the 6th solar masses of stars within 1 pc of the center. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: October 1980 DOI: 10.1086/158324 Bibcode: 1980ApJ...241..132L Keywords: Fine Structure; Galactic Nuclei; Infrared Spectra; Interstellar Gas; Ionized Gases; Mass Distribution; Milky Way Galaxy; Abundance; Cloud Physics; Gas Ionization; Line Spectra; Astrophysics; Galactic Center:Gas Clouds; Galactic Center:Infrared Sources full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (15)Read More