Variable accretion and emission from the stellar winds in the Galactic Centre |
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| Authors: | Jorge Cuadra Sergei Nayakshin Fabrice Martins |
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| Institution: | JILA, University of Colorado and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO 80309-0440, USA;Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, D-85741 Garching, Germany;Department of Physics &Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH;Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, D-85741 Garching, Germany |
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| Abstract: | We present numerical simulations of stellar wind dynamics in the central parsec of the Galactic Centre, studying in particular the accretion of gas on to Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole. Unlike our previous work, here we use state-of-the-art observational data on orbits and wind properties of individual wind-producing stars. Since wind velocities were revised upwards and non-zero eccentricities were considered, our new simulations show fewer clumps of cold gas and no conspicuous disc-like structure. The accretion rate is dominated by a few close 'slow-wind stars' ( v w≤ 750 km s?1), and is consistent with the Bondi estimate, but variable on time-scales of tens to hundreds of years. This variability is due to the stochastic infall of cold clumps of gas, as in earlier simulations, and to the eccentric orbits of stars. The present models fail to explain the high luminosity of Sgr A* a few hundred years ago implied by Integral observations, but we argue that the accretion of a cold clump with a small impact parameter could have caused it. Finally, we show the possibility of constraining the total mass-loss rate of the 'slow-wind stars' using near infrared observations of gas in the central few arcseconds. |
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| Keywords: | accretion accretion discs stars: winds outflows Galaxy: centre galaxies: active |
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