The Population of the Galactic Center Filaments: Position Angle Distribution Reveals a Degree-scale Collimated Outflow from Sgr A* along the Galactic Plane

Journal article

We present new observations of the central 1 kpc of the M 82 starburst obtained with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) near-infrared camera (NIRCam) instrument at a resolution ~0.05"-0.1" (~1-2 pc). The data comprises images in three mostly continuum filters (F140M, F250M, and F360M), and filters that contain [FeII] (F164N), H2 v=1-0 (F212N), and the 3.3 um PAH feature (F335M). We find prominent plumes of PAH emission extending outward from the central starburst region, together with a network of complex filamentary substructure and edge-brightened bubble-like features. The structure of the PAH emission closely resembles that of the ionized gas, as revealed in Paschen alpha and free-free radio emission. We discuss the origin of the structure, and suggest the PAHs are embedded in a combination of neutral, molecular, and photoionized gas.Comment: Submitted to The Astrophysical Journa

Authors: Yusef-Zadeh, F; Arendt, RG; Wardle, M; Heywood, I

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Astronomical Society
• Journal: The Astrophysical Journal Letters
• Volume: 949
• Issue: 2
• Pages: L31-L31
• Publication date: 2023-06-02
• DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/acd54b
• EISSN: 2041-8213
• ISSN: 2041-8205
• Language: English
• Keywords: Population; Galactic Center; Optics; Astronomy; Galactic plane; Physics; Position angle; Protein filament; Outflow; Astrophysics; Plane (geometry); Geometry; Galaxy; Collimated light; Scale height