Discovery of a Recombining Plasma in Sagittarius A East and Its Relation to the Past Activity of Sagittarius A*
Abstract
Sagittarius (Sgr) A East is a mixed-morphology supernovae remnant of which overlaps with Sgr A*. We analyzed the 240-ks Suzaku data of Sgr A East. Using the simultaneous-fit technique, we carefully estimated the Galactic center X-ray emission background. We discovered a radiative recombination continuum of highly-ionized Fe and found that the plasma is in the recombining status. In addition, we also detected highly-ionized Mn and Cr lines and a neutral Fe Kα line. As the origin of the recombining plasma, we propose the X-ray photo-ionization of the Sgr A* flares, which can also explain the presence of neutral Fe Kα line. These results fill the gaps of the previous studies on the past activity of Sgr A* by X-ray outflows and X-ray reflection nebulae.
- Publication:
-
New Horizons in Galactic Center Astronomy and Beyond
- Pub Date:
- July 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021ASPC..528..433U