The galactic center: Not an active galactic nucleus

Deokkeun An; Solange V. Ramírez; Kris Sellgren

doi:10.1088/0067-0049/206/2/20

The galactic center: Not an active galactic nucleus

Deokkeun An, Solange V. Ramírez, Kris Sellgren

Department of Science Education

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present 10 μm-35 μm Spitzer spectra of the interstellar medium in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), the central 210 pc × 60 pc of the Galactic center (GC). We present maps of the CMZ in ionic and H₂ emission, covering a more extensive area than earlier spectroscopic surveys in this region. The radial velocities and intensities of ionic lines and H ₂ suggest that most of the H₂ 0-0 S(0) emission comes from gas along the line-of-sight, as found by previous work. We compare diagnostic line ratios measured in the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey to our data. Previous work shows that forbidden line ratios can distinguish star-forming galaxies from low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our GC line ratios agree with star-forming galaxies and not with LINERs or AGNs.

Original language	English
Article number	20
Journal	Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume	206
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0067-0049/206/2/20
State	Published - Jun 2013

Keywords

ISM: molecules
galaxies: ISM
galaxies: active
galaxies: nuclei
galaxies: starburst
infrared: ISM
stars: formation

Access to Document

10.1088/0067-0049/206/2/20

Cite this

@article{f116ca0b65a743feb716d27f443e0923,

title = "The galactic center: Not an active galactic nucleus",

abstract = "We present 10 μm-35 μm Spitzer spectra of the interstellar medium in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), the central 210 pc × 60 pc of the Galactic center (GC). We present maps of the CMZ in ionic and H2 emission, covering a more extensive area than earlier spectroscopic surveys in this region. The radial velocities and intensities of ionic lines and H 2 suggest that most of the H2 0-0 S(0) emission comes from gas along the line-of-sight, as found by previous work. We compare diagnostic line ratios measured in the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey to our data. Previous work shows that forbidden line ratios can distinguish star-forming galaxies from low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our GC line ratios agree with star-forming galaxies and not with LINERs or AGNs.",

keywords = "ISM: molecules, galaxies: ISM, galaxies: active, galaxies: nuclei, galaxies: starburst, infrared: ISM, stars: formation",

author = "Deokkeun An and Ram{\'i}rez, {Solange V.} and Kris Sellgren",

year = "2013",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1088/0067-0049/206/2/20",

language = "English",

volume = "206",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series",

issn = "0067-0049",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The galactic center

T2 - Not an active galactic nucleus

AU - An, Deokkeun

AU - Ramírez, Solange V.

AU - Sellgren, Kris

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

N2 - We present 10 μm-35 μm Spitzer spectra of the interstellar medium in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), the central 210 pc × 60 pc of the Galactic center (GC). We present maps of the CMZ in ionic and H2 emission, covering a more extensive area than earlier spectroscopic surveys in this region. The radial velocities and intensities of ionic lines and H 2 suggest that most of the H2 0-0 S(0) emission comes from gas along the line-of-sight, as found by previous work. We compare diagnostic line ratios measured in the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey to our data. Previous work shows that forbidden line ratios can distinguish star-forming galaxies from low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our GC line ratios agree with star-forming galaxies and not with LINERs or AGNs.

AB - We present 10 μm-35 μm Spitzer spectra of the interstellar medium in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), the central 210 pc × 60 pc of the Galactic center (GC). We present maps of the CMZ in ionic and H2 emission, covering a more extensive area than earlier spectroscopic surveys in this region. The radial velocities and intensities of ionic lines and H 2 suggest that most of the H2 0-0 S(0) emission comes from gas along the line-of-sight, as found by previous work. We compare diagnostic line ratios measured in the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey to our data. Previous work shows that forbidden line ratios can distinguish star-forming galaxies from low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions (LINERs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our GC line ratios agree with star-forming galaxies and not with LINERs or AGNs.

KW - ISM: molecules

KW - galaxies: ISM

KW - galaxies: active

KW - galaxies: nuclei

KW - galaxies: starburst

KW - infrared: ISM

KW - stars: formation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879859896&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/0067-0049/206/2/20

DO - 10.1088/0067-0049/206/2/20

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84879859896

SN - 0067-0049

VL - 206

JO - Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series

JF - Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series

IS - 2

M1 - 20

ER -

The galactic center: Not an active galactic nucleus

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this