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2006ApJ...641..302M - Astrophys. J., 641, 302-318 (2006/April-2)

Understanding the radio variability of Sagittarius A*.

MacQUART J.-P. and BOWER G.C.

Abstract (from CDS):

We determine the characteristics of the 7 mm to 20 cm wavelength radio variability in Sgr A* on timescales from days to three decades. The amplitude of the intensity modulation is between 30% and 39% at all wavelengths. Analysis of uniformly sampled data with proper accounting of the sampling errors associated with the light curves shows that Sgr A* exhibits no 57 day or 106 day quasi-periodic oscillations, contrary to previous claims. The cause of the variability is investigated by examining a number of plausible scintillation models, enabling those variations that could be attributed to interstellar scintillation to be isolated from those that must be intrinsic to the source. Thin-screen scattering models do not account for the variability amplitude on most timescales. However, models in which the scattering region is extended out to a radius of 50-500 pc from the Galactic center account well for the broad characteristics of the variability on >4 day timescales. The ∼10% variability on <4 day timescales at 0.7-3 cm appears to be intrinsic to the source. The degree of scintillation variability expected at millimeter wavelengths depends sensitively on the intrinsic source size; the variations, if due to scintillation, would require an intrinsic source size smaller than that expected.

Abstract Copyright:

Journal keyword(s): Galaxies: Active - Galaxy: Center - Scattering

Simbad objects: 2

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