Variations in the spectral slope of sagittarius A* during a near-infrared flare

S. Gillessen; F. Eisenhauer; E. Quataert; R. Genzel; T. Paumard; S. Trippe; T. Ott; R. Abuter; A. Eckart; P. O. Lagage; M. D. Lehnert; L. J. Tacconi; F. Martins

doi:10.1086/503557

Variations in the spectral slope of sagittarius A* during a near-infrared flare

S. Gillessen, F. Eisenhauer, E. Quataert, R. Genzel, T. Paumard, S. Trippe, T. Ott, R. Abuter, A. Eckart, P. O. Lagage, M. D. Lehnert, L. J. Tacconi, F. Martins

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93 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have observed a bright flare of Sgr A* in the near-infrared with the adaptive optics-assisted integral-field spectrometer SINFONI. Within the uncertainties, the observed spectrum is featureless and can be described by a power law. Our data suggest that the spectral index is correlated with the instantaneous flux and that both quantities experience significant changes within less than 1 hour. We argue that the near-infrared flares from Sgr A* are due to synchrotron emission of transiently heated electrons, the emission being affected by orbital dynamics and synchrotron cooling, both acting on timescales of ≈20 minutes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L163-L166
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	640
Issue number	2 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/503557
State	Published - Apr 1 2006
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Black hole physics
Galaxy: center
Infrared: stars
Techniques: spectroscopic

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10.1086/503557

Cite this

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title = "Variations in the spectral slope of sagittarius A* during a near-infrared flare",

abstract = "We have observed a bright flare of Sgr A* in the near-infrared with the adaptive optics-assisted integral-field spectrometer SINFONI. Within the uncertainties, the observed spectrum is featureless and can be described by a power law. Our data suggest that the spectral index is correlated with the instantaneous flux and that both quantities experience significant changes within less than 1 hour. We argue that the near-infrared flares from Sgr A* are due to synchrotron emission of transiently heated electrons, the emission being affected by orbital dynamics and synchrotron cooling, both acting on timescales of ≈20 minutes.",

keywords = "Black hole physics, Galaxy: center, Infrared: stars, Techniques: spectroscopic",

author = "S. Gillessen and F. Eisenhauer and E. Quataert and R. Genzel and T. Paumard and S. Trippe and T. Ott and R. Abuter and A. Eckart and Lagage, \{P. O.\} and Lehnert, \{M. D.\} and Tacconi, \{L. J.\} and F. Martins",

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doi = "10.1086/503557",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "640",

pages = "L163--L166",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Variations in the spectral slope of sagittarius A* during a near-infrared flare

AU - Gillessen, S.

AU - Eisenhauer, F.

AU - Quataert, E.

AU - Genzel, R.

AU - Paumard, T.

AU - Trippe, S.

AU - Ott, T.

AU - Abuter, R.

AU - Eckart, A.

AU - Lagage, P. O.

AU - Lehnert, M. D.

AU - Tacconi, L. J.

AU - Martins, F.

PY - 2006/4/1

Y1 - 2006/4/1

N2 - We have observed a bright flare of Sgr A* in the near-infrared with the adaptive optics-assisted integral-field spectrometer SINFONI. Within the uncertainties, the observed spectrum is featureless and can be described by a power law. Our data suggest that the spectral index is correlated with the instantaneous flux and that both quantities experience significant changes within less than 1 hour. We argue that the near-infrared flares from Sgr A* are due to synchrotron emission of transiently heated electrons, the emission being affected by orbital dynamics and synchrotron cooling, both acting on timescales of ≈20 minutes.

AB - We have observed a bright flare of Sgr A* in the near-infrared with the adaptive optics-assisted integral-field spectrometer SINFONI. Within the uncertainties, the observed spectrum is featureless and can be described by a power law. Our data suggest that the spectral index is correlated with the instantaneous flux and that both quantities experience significant changes within less than 1 hour. We argue that the near-infrared flares from Sgr A* are due to synchrotron emission of transiently heated electrons, the emission being affected by orbital dynamics and synchrotron cooling, both acting on timescales of ≈20 minutes.

KW - Black hole physics

KW - Galaxy: center

KW - Infrared: stars

KW - Techniques: spectroscopic

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/33645817517

UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33645817517&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/503557

DO - 10.1086/503557

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33645817517

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 640

SP - L163-L166

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 II

ER -

Variations in the spectral slope of sagittarius A* during a near-infrared flare

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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