Galactic Center Molecular Clouds

Abstract

At a distance of 8 kpc only, the center of the Galaxy provides a unique testbed for studies about the physics of the interstellar medium and star formation in the nuclei of galaxies. Since it shares many properties of other, more spectacular nuclei, a detailed investigation of the Galactic Center is a necessary step to gain better understanding of the physical processes governing galactic nuclei in general. We review the characteristics of the central molecular cloud layer, the physical properties of these clouds, and their interplay with the magnetic field.

10 pages, 3 figures. Version with full graphics available from ftp://ftp.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/outgoing/sphilipp (Co)authored by members of the MPIfR (Sub)millimeter Astronomy Group. To appear in the Proceedings of the 4th Cologne-Bonn-Zermatt-Symposium "The Dense Interstellar Medium in Galaxies" eds. S. Pfalzner, C. Kramer, C. Straubmeier, & A. Heithausen (Springer: Berlin)

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• The molecular gas in Luminous Infrared Galaxies II: extreme physical conditions, and their effects on the X_{co} factor
• A Simple and Accurate Network for Hydrogen and Carbon Chemistry in the ISM
• Temperature and Density Distribution in the Molecular Gas Toward Westerlund 2: Further Evidence for Physical Association
• Phosphorus-bearing molecules in the Galactic Center
• Numerical simulations of the possible origin of the two sub-parsec scale and counter-rotating stellar disks around SgrA*
• Simulations of Direct Collisions of Gas Clouds with the Central Black Hole
• Gamma ray bursts and the origin of galactic positrons
• 74 MHz Nonthermal Emission from Molecular Clouds: Evidence for a Cosmic Ray Dominated Region at the Galactic Center
• The first detection of SiC${}_2$ in the interstellar medium
• The Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone
• Assessing the Feasibility of Cosmic-Ray Acceleration by Magnetic Turbulence at the Galactic Center
• Stellar Relaxation Processes Near the Galactic Massive Black Hole
• An ALCHEMI inspection of sulphur-bearing species towards the central molecular zone of NGC 253