1. Spiral magnetic fields and their role on accretion dynamics in the circumnuclear disk of Sagittarius A*: Insight from λ = 850 μm polarization imaging.
- Author
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Sato, Kazuki, Shinnaga, Hiroko, Furuya, Ray S, Suzuki, Takeru K, Kakiuchi, Kensuke, and Ott, Jürgen
- Subjects
INFRARED astronomy ,GALACTIC center ,ACCRETION disks ,MAGNETIC fields ,PSEUDOPOTENTIAL method - Abstract
We showcase a study on the physical properties of the circumnuclear disk (CND) surrounding the supermassive black hole (SMBH) Sgr A* of the Galactic Center, emphasizing the role of magnetic field (|$\boldsymbol {B}$| field) with |$0.50\,$| pc spatial resolution. Based on the sensitive |$\lambda = 850\, \mu$| m polarization data taken with the JCMT SCUBA2/POL2 (James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2), we analyzed ancillary datasets: CS |$J = 2$| –1 emission taken with ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), continuum emissions taken at |$\lambda = 6\,$| cm and at |$\lambda = 37\, \mu$| m taken with the VLA (Very Large Array) and SOFIA (the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy telescope). The |$\boldsymbol {B}$| field within the CND exhibits a coherent spiral pattern. Applying the model described by Wardle and Königl (1990, ApJ, 362, 12; the WK model) to the observed |$\boldsymbol {B}$| field pattern, it favors gas-pressure-dominant models without dismissing a gas-and- |$\boldsymbol {B}$| field comparable model, leading us to estimate the |$\boldsymbol {B}$| -field strength in the ionized cavity around Sgr A* as |$0.24^{+0.06}_{-0.04}\,$| mG. Analysis based on the WK model further allows us to derive representative |$\boldsymbol {B}$| -field strengths for the radial, azimuthal, and vertical components as |$(B_r, B_\phi , B_z) = (0.4 \pm 0.1, -0.7 \pm 0.2, 0.2 \pm 0.05)\,$| mG, respectively. A key finding is that the |$|B_\phi |$| component is dominant over |$B_r$| and |$B_z$| components, consistent with the spiral morphology, indicating that the CND's |$\boldsymbol {B}$| -field is predominantly toroidal, possibly shaped by accretion dynamics. Considering the turbulent pressure, estimated plasma |$\beta$| values indicate that the effective gas pressure should surpass the magnetic pressure. Assessing the CND of our MWG in the toroidal-and-vertical stability parameter space, we propose that such an "effective" magneto-rotational instability (MRI) may likely be active. The estimated maximum unstable wavelength, |$\lambda _{\rm max} = 0.1 \pm 0.1\,$| pc, is smaller than the CND's scale height (|$0.2 \pm 0.1\,$| pc), which indicates the potential for the effective MRI intermittent cycles of |$\sim 10^6\,$| yr, which should profoundly affect the CND's evolution, considering the estimated mass accretion rate of |$10^{-2} M_{\odot }\,$| yr |$^{-1}$| to the SMBH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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