A New System of Parallel Isolated Nonthermal Filaments Near the Galactic Center: Evidence for a Local Magnetic Field Gradient
Abstract
We report the discovery of a system of isolated nonthermal filaments approximately northwest 0 degrees.5 (75 pc in projection) of Sgr A. Unlike other isolated nonthermal filaments which show subfilamentation, braiding of subfilaments, and flaring at their ends, these filaments are simple linear structures and more closely resemble the parallel bundled filaments in the Galactic center radio arc. However, the most unusual feature of these filaments is that the 20/90 cm spectral index uniformly decreases as a function of length, in contrast to all other nonthermal filaments in the Galactic center. This spectral gradient may not be due to simple particle aging but could be explained by a curved electron energy spectrum embedded in a diverging magnetic field. If so, the scale of the magnetic gradient is not consistent with a large scale magnetic field centered on Sgr A* suggesting that this filament system is tracing a local magnetic field.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 14, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA464580
Entities
People
- Namir E. Kassim
- T. J. Lazio
- T. N. Larosa
Organizations
- Kennesaw State University