Preprint
On the Nature of the X-ray Emission from the Galactic Center Region
01/05/2002
DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0201070
Abstract
The origin of the X-ray emission from the central region of the Galaxy has
remained a mystery, despite extensive study over the past two decades. A
fundamental question is the relative contribution of the point-source and
diffuse components of this emission, which is critical to understanding the
high-energy phenomena and processes unique to this Galactic nuclear
environment. Here, we report on results from a large-scale imaging survey of
the Galactic center with sufficient spatial resolution to allow a clean
separation of the two components. The highly-ionized Fe emission, previously
attributed to the diffuse emission, is found largely due to the discrete X-ray
source population. The number and spectrum of such sources indicate the
presence of numerous accreting white dwarfs, neutron stars, and/or black holes
in the region. The diffuse X-ray emission dominates over the contribution from
the faint discrete sources and is shown to be associated with distinct
interstellar structures observed at radio and mid-infrared wavelengths,
suggesting that it arises from the recent formation of massive stars. We have
also mapped out the 6.4-keV fluorescence line emission from neutral to
moderately ionized irons. The ubiquitous association of the emission with
molecular gas indicates that either the X-ray radiation from the Galactic
center was substantially more intense in the past than at present or
non-relativistic cosmic-rays are important in producing Fe K shell vacancies.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- On the Nature of the X-ray Emission from the Galactic Center Region
- Creators
- Q. D WangE. V GotthelfC. C Lang
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- DOI
- 10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0201070
- Language
- English
- Date posted
- 01/05/2002
- Academic Unit
- Liberal Arts and Science Admin; Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984442200302771
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