Tracing gas accretion in the Galactic center using isotopic ratios
Abstract
Ams: We study the 12C/13C isotopic ratio in the disk of the central molecular zone and in the halo to trace gas accretion toward the Galactic center region in the Milky Way. Methods: Using the IRAM 30m telescope, we observe the J=1-0 rotational transition of HCO+, HCN, HNC and their 13C isotopic substitutions in order to measure the 12C/13C isotopic ratio. We observe 9 positions selected throughout the Galactic center region, including clouds at high latitude; locations where the X1 and X2 orbits associated with the barred potential are expected to intersect; and typical Galactic center molecular clouds. Results: We find a systematically higher 12C/13C isotopic ratio (>40) toward the halo and the X1 orbits than for the Galactic center molecular clouds (20-25). Our results point out to molecular gas which has undergone a different degree of nuclear processing than that observed in the gas towards the inner Galactic center region. Conclusions: The high isotopic ratios are consistent with the accretion of the gas from the halo and from the outskirts of the Galactic disk.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1008.1873,
title = {Tracing gas accretion in the Galactic center using isotopic ratios},
author = {D. Riquelme and M. A. Amo-Baladron and J. Martin-Pintado and R. Mauersberger and S. Martin and L. Bronfman},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1008.1873},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A&A