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High-resolution VLA images of the Galactic Centre at 2-cm wavelength with large dynamic range

Nature volume 354, pages 46–48 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

THE existence of a black hole at the centre of our galaxy was proposed by Lynden-Bell and Rees1, and the later discovery of a bright compact radio source (SgrA*) at the Galactic Centre2 suggested the presence of a central exciting source3. Recently, Yusef-Zadeh et al.4 reported faint extended radio structures (the 'satellite radio features') which they interpreted as thermally emitting blobs of plasma physically associated with Sgr A*. These puzzling features could be taken as evidence for an outflowing wind from Sgr A*/IRS16 (a complex infrared source), but there was also a suspicion that they might be instrumental artefacts. We have re-observed the Galactic Centre using the Very Large Array, obtaining images at a wavelength of 2 cm with resolution of ∼0.1 arcsec (0.005 pc). The r.m.s. noise of 70 μJy per beam, with a dynamic range of 22,000:1, is comparable to that of ref. 4, but the new structures reported in ref. 4 do not appear in our observations. We discuss several ways that low-level artefacts near Sgr A* might have been generated. We also confirm the presence of a plume of emission 1 arcsec southwest of Sgr A*.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, New Mexico, 87801, USA

    Jun-Hui Zhao & W. M. Goss

  2. Astronomy Department, University of Illinois, 1002 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, USA

    K. Y. Lo

  3. Australia Telescope National Facility, PO Box 76, Epping, New South Wales, 2121, Australia

    R. D. Ekers

Authors
  1. Jun-Hui Zhao
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  2. W. M. Goss
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  3. K. Y. Lo
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  4. R. D. Ekers
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Zhao, JH., Goss, W., Lo, K. et al. High-resolution VLA images of the Galactic Centre at 2-cm wavelength with large dynamic range. Nature 354, 46–48 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/354046a0

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