Gamma-Rays and the Far-Infrared-Radio Continuum Correlation Reveal a Powerful Galactic Centre Wind
Abstract
We consider the thermal and non-thermal emission from the inner 200 pc of the Galaxy. The radiation from this almost star-burst-like region is ultimately driven dominantly by on-going massive star formation. We show that this region's radio continuum (RC) emission is in relative deficit with respect to the expectation afforded by the Far- infrared-Radio Continuum Correlation (FRC). Likewise we show that the region's gamma-ray emission falls short of that expected given its star formation and resultant supernova rates. These facts are compellingly explained by positing that a powerful (400-1200 km/s) wind is launched from the region. This wind probably plays a number of important roles including advecting positrons into the Galactic bulge thus explaining the observed ~kpc extension of the 511 keV positron annihilation signal around the GC. We also show that the large-scale GC magnetic field falls in the range ~100-300 microG and that - in the time they remain in the region - GC cosmic rays do not penetrate into the region's densest molecular material.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1009.4340,
title = {Gamma-Rays and the Far-Infrared-Radio Continuum Correlation Reveal a Powerful Galactic Centre Wind},
author = {Roland M. Crocker and David I. Jones and Felix Aharonian and Casey J. Law and Fulvio Melia and Juergen Ott},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1009.4340},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
Version accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters. Discussion extended and references added