Reconstructing the Past Light Curve of Sgr A* With X-ray Echoes
Abstract
X-ray echoes at the Galactic centre allow the reconstruction of the past activity of Sgr A*, provided that the line-of-sight positions of the reflecting clouds are known. Using a Monte Carlo model to place constraints on the positions of 8 clouds, we show, for the first time at a 5-sigma level, that Sgr A* experienced two powerful outbursts in the past centuries: a short one ∼85 yr back, and a longer one ∼240 yr ago.
- Publication:
-
New Horizons in Galactic Center Astronomy and Beyond
- Pub Date:
- July 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021ASPC..528..227C