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 H2 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.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
- Pub Date:
- June 2013
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1305.0088
- Bibcode:
- 2013ApJS..206...20A
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: active;
- galaxies: ISM;
- galaxies: nuclei;
- galaxies: starburst;
- infrared: ISM;
- ISM: molecules;
- stars: formation;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in the ApJ Supplement Series
