Molecular loops in the galactic center: Evidence for magnetic flotation

Yasuo Fukui; Hiroaki Yamamoto; Motosuji Fujishita; Natsuko Kudo; Kazufumi Torii; Satoshi Nozawa; Kunio Takahashi; Ryoji Matsumoto; Mami Machida; Akiko Kawamura; Yoshinori Yonekura; Norikazu Mizuno; Toshikazu Onishi; Akira Mizuno

doi:10.1126/science.1130425

Molecular loops in the galactic center: Evidence for magnetic flotation

Yasuo Fukui, Hiroaki Yamamoto, Motosuji Fujishita, Natsuko Kudo, Kazufumi Torii, Satoshi Nozawa, Kunio Takahashi, Ryoji Matsumoto, Mami Machida, Akiko Kawamura, Yoshinori Yonekura, Norikazu Mizuno, Toshikazu Onishi, Akira Mizuno

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

65 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The central few hundred parsecs of the Milky Way host a massive black hole and exhibit very violent gas motion and high temperatures in molecular gas. The origin of these properties has been a mystery for the past four decades. Wide-field imaging of the ¹²CO (rotational quantum number J = 1 to 0) 2.6-millimeter spectrum has revealed huge loops of dense molecular gas with strong velocity dispersions in the galactic center. We present a magnetic flotation model to explain that the formation of the loops is due to magnetic buoyancy caused by the Parker instability. The model has the potential to offer a coherent explanation for the origin of the violent motion and extensive heating of the molecular gas in the galactic center.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	106-109
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	314
Issue number	5796
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1130425
Publication status	Published - Oct 6 2006
Externally published	Yes

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10.1126/science.1130425

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title = "Molecular loops in the galactic center: Evidence for magnetic flotation",

abstract = "The central few hundred parsecs of the Milky Way host a massive black hole and exhibit very violent gas motion and high temperatures in molecular gas. The origin of these properties has been a mystery for the past four decades. Wide-field imaging of the 12CO (rotational quantum number J = 1 to 0) 2.6-millimeter spectrum has revealed huge loops of dense molecular gas with strong velocity dispersions in the galactic center. We present a magnetic flotation model to explain that the formation of the loops is due to magnetic buoyancy caused by the Parker instability. The model has the potential to offer a coherent explanation for the origin of the violent motion and extensive heating of the molecular gas in the galactic center.",

author = "Yasuo Fukui and Hiroaki Yamamoto and Motosuji Fujishita and Natsuko Kudo and Kazufumi Torii and Satoshi Nozawa and Kunio Takahashi and Ryoji Matsumoto and Mami Machida and Akiko Kawamura and Yoshinori Yonekura and Norikazu Mizuno and Toshikazu Onishi and Akira Mizuno",

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doi = "10.1126/science.1130425",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Molecular loops in the galactic center

T2 - Evidence for magnetic flotation

AU - Fukui, Yasuo

AU - Yamamoto, Hiroaki

AU - Fujishita, Motosuji

AU - Kudo, Natsuko

AU - Torii, Kazufumi

AU - Nozawa, Satoshi

AU - Takahashi, Kunio

AU - Matsumoto, Ryoji

AU - Machida, Mami

AU - Kawamura, Akiko

AU - Yonekura, Yoshinori

AU - Mizuno, Norikazu

AU - Onishi, Toshikazu

AU - Mizuno, Akira

PY - 2006/10/6

Y1 - 2006/10/6

N2 - The central few hundred parsecs of the Milky Way host a massive black hole and exhibit very violent gas motion and high temperatures in molecular gas. The origin of these properties has been a mystery for the past four decades. Wide-field imaging of the 12CO (rotational quantum number J = 1 to 0) 2.6-millimeter spectrum has revealed huge loops of dense molecular gas with strong velocity dispersions in the galactic center. We present a magnetic flotation model to explain that the formation of the loops is due to magnetic buoyancy caused by the Parker instability. The model has the potential to offer a coherent explanation for the origin of the violent motion and extensive heating of the molecular gas in the galactic center.

AB - The central few hundred parsecs of the Milky Way host a massive black hole and exhibit very violent gas motion and high temperatures in molecular gas. The origin of these properties has been a mystery for the past four decades. Wide-field imaging of the 12CO (rotational quantum number J = 1 to 0) 2.6-millimeter spectrum has revealed huge loops of dense molecular gas with strong velocity dispersions in the galactic center. We present a magnetic flotation model to explain that the formation of the loops is due to magnetic buoyancy caused by the Parker instability. The model has the potential to offer a coherent explanation for the origin of the violent motion and extensive heating of the molecular gas in the galactic center.

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SP - 106

EP - 109

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5796

ER -

Molecular loops in the galactic center: Evidence for magnetic flotation

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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