A nonthermal bomb explains the near-infrared superflare of Sgr A*
The Galactic center supermassive black hole, Sgr A*, has experienced a strong, unprecedented flare in May 2019 when its near-infrared luminosity reached much brighter levels than ever measured. We argue that an explosive event of particle acceleration to nonthermal energies in the innermost parts of...
Guardado en:
| Autores principales: | , , |
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| Formato: | Articulo Preprint |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2020
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/139207 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | The Galactic center supermassive black hole, Sgr A*, has experienced a strong, unprecedented flare in May 2019 when its near-infrared luminosity reached much brighter levels than ever measured. We argue that an explosive event of particle acceleration to nonthermal energies in the innermost parts of the accretion flow---a nonthermal bomb---explains the near-IR light curve. We discuss potential mechanisms that could explain this event such as magnetic reconnection and relativistic turbulence acceleration. Multiwavelength monitoring of such superflares in radio, infrared and X-rays should allow a concrete test of the nonthermal bomb model and put better constraints on the mechanism that triggered the bomb. |
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