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Explaining the flat-spectrum radio core Sgr A* with GRMHD simulations of jets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2015

Monika A. Mościbrodzka
Monika A. Mościbrodzka*
Affiliation:
Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way, Sgr A*, displays a nearly flat radio spectrum which is typical for jets in Active Galactic Nuclei. Indeed, time dependent, magnetized models of radiatively inefficient accretion flows, which are commonly used to explain the millimeter, near-infrared, and X-ray emission of Sgr A* also often produce jet-like outflows. However, the emission from these models so far has failed to reproduce the flat radio spectrum. We show that current GRMHD simulations can naturally reproduce the flat spectrum, when using a two-temperature plasma in the disk and a constant electron temperature plasma in the jet. This assumption is consistent with current state-of-the art simulations, in which the electron temperature evolution is not explicitly modeled. Stronger magnetization and stronger shearing seen in the jet sheath could possibly explain the difference in electron heating between jet and disk. The model images and spectra are consistent with the radio sizes and spectrum of Sgr A*.

Keywords

accretionaccretion disksblack hole physicsMHDradiative transferrelativityGalaxy: center
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 10 , Issue S313: Extragalactic jets from every angle , September 2014 , pp. 374 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2015 

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