High-Frequency Measurements of the Spectrum of Sagittarius A*
Open Access
- 20 November 1997
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 490 (1) , L77-L81
- https://doi.org/10.1086/311010
Abstract
We report near-simultaneous interferometric measurements of the spectrum of Sagittarius A* over the 5-354 GHz range and single-dish observations that have yielded the first detection of Sgr A* at 850 GHz. We confirm that Sgr A*'s spectrum rises more steeply at short millimeter wavelengths than at centimeter wavelengths, leading to a near-millimeter/submillimeter excess that dominates its luminosity. Below 900 GHz, Sgr A*'s observed luminosity is 70 ± 30 L. A new upper limit to Sgr A*'s 24.3 μm flux, together with a compilation of other extant IR data, imply a far-infrared spectral turnover, which can result from either an intrinsic synchrotron cutoff or excess extinction near Sgr A*. If the former applies, Sgr A*'s total synchrotron luminosity is 3 L, while in the latter case it is 4 L if spherical symmetry also applies.Keywords
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