Physics Program Presents
Astro-archeology at the Galactic Center
Friday, November 12, 2021
Hegeman 107
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Maica Clavel, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
The supermassive black hole at the Galactic center, Sagittarius A*, is the least luminous known supermassive black hole, but relics in its surroundings show that it has not always been so quiet. X-ray observations of the diffuse emission at the Galactic center performed over the last two decades have revealed an intense and highly variable nonthermal component, spatially correlated with dense molecular clouds present in the central three hundred parsecs. This reflection signal has been identified as echoes created by the past activity of Sagittarius A*. However, using these reflection features to reconstruct its precise history over the last centuries has been challenging. Through dedicated X-ray variability and spectral analyses, we are now able to derive an increasing number of constraints on two past outbursts from Sagittarius A* that occurred in the last centuries. However, what caused these events is still an open question. I will review how and what we have learned about Sagittarius A*'s past activity.For more information, call 845-758-4391, or e-mail [email protected].
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Location: Hegeman 107