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The reflection of two past outbursts of Sagittarius A* observed by Chandra during the last decade

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2014

M. Clavel ,
R. Terrier ,
A. Goldwurm ,
M. R. Morris ,
G. Ponti ,
S. Soldi  and
G. Trap
M. Clavel
Affiliation:
AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Univ. Paris Diderot, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/DSM, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité; 10, rue A. Domon et L. Duquet, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France email: maica.clavel@apc.univ-paris7.fr Service d'Astrophysique/IRFU/DSM, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
R. Terrier
Affiliation:
AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Univ. Paris Diderot, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/DSM, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité; 10, rue A. Domon et L. Duquet, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France email: maica.clavel@apc.univ-paris7.fr
A. Goldwurm
Affiliation:
AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Univ. Paris Diderot, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/DSM, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité; 10, rue A. Domon et L. Duquet, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France email: maica.clavel@apc.univ-paris7.fr Service d'Astrophysique/IRFU/DSM, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
M. R. Morris
Affiliation:
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1547, USA
G. Ponti
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, PSF 1312, D-85741 Garching, Germany
S. Soldi
Affiliation:
AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Univ. Paris Diderot, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/DSM, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité; 10, rue A. Domon et L. Duquet, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France email: maica.clavel@apc.univ-paris7.fr
G. Trap
Affiliation:
AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Univ. Paris Diderot, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/DSM, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité; 10, rue A. Domon et L. Duquet, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France email: maica.clavel@apc.univ-paris7.fr Service d'Astrophysique/IRFU/DSM, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France Unité de physique, Palais de la découverte - Universcience, 75008 Paris, France
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Abstract

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The supermassive black hole at the Galactic center, Sagittarius A* has experienced periods of higher activity in the past. The reflection of these past outbursts is observed in the molecular material surrounding the black hole but reconstructing its precise lightcurve is difficult since the distribution of the clouds along the line of sight is poorly constrained.

Using Chandra high-resolution data collected from 1999 to 2011 we studied both the 6.4 keV and the 4–8 keV emission of the region located between Sgr A* and the Radio arc, characterizing its variations down to 15″ angular scale and 1-year time scale. The emission from the molecular clouds in the region varies significantly, showing either a 2-year peaked emission or 10-year linear variations. This is the first time that such fast variations are measured. Based on the cloud parameters, we conclude that these two behaviors are likely due to two distinct past outbursts of Sgr A* during which its luminosity rose to at least 1039 erg s−1.

Keywords

reflection nebulae — X-rays: ISMradiation mechanisms: nonthermal — Galaxy: center
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 9 , Symposium S303: The Galactic Center: Feeding and Feedback in a Normal Galactic Nucleus , October 2013 , pp. 344 - 348
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2014 

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