Q. Daniel Wang and Cornelia Lang

(U. of Massachusetts)

Eric Gotthelf (Columbia U.)

ChandraChandra X-ray X-ray Survey of the Galactic Center:Survey of the Galactic Center:

On the Nature of the X-ray EmissionOn the Nature of the X-ray Emission

Based partly on a paper published in Nature (Jan. 10th issue) and on a talk presented at the AAS meeting, Jan. 9, 2002

GC

ASCA Survey of the Galactic Center

+

Sakano et al. (2001)

2o (900 light-year)

0.8o (400 light-

year)

GC

Chandra X-ray Survey of the Galactic Center

Chandra X-ray Survey of the Galactic Center

Red: 1-3 keV Green: 3-5 keV Blue: 5-8 keV

GC

Central Region of the Survey

Radio

Mid-infrared

6.4 keV line (fluorescent radiation)

Galactic Center Across the Spectrum

Summary

•First high-resolution X-ray panorama of the Galactic center

separation of discrete and diffuse X-ray emissions.

•Detection of about 1,000 discrete X-ray sources

presence of numerous white dwarf stars, neutron stars, and black holes.

•Detection of large amounts of hot gas (tens of million degrees)

heated and chemically enriched by frequent supernovae and escaping into the Galactic halo.

•Map of the fluorescent (reflected) X-ray radiation

tracing the radiation history of the central supermassive black hole.

These results represent an important step toward the understanding the high-energy activities in the heart of the Milky Way as well as cores of galaxies throughout the Universe.