Presentation Abstract:
The center of our Milky Way Galaxy, better known as the Galactic Center, is
host to many important and influential landmarks, including the
supermassive black hole Sgr A*, stellar complexes like Sgr B, and many
young ultraviolet light producing stars. The stellar radiated output
produced by these stars is absorbed by the dust and gas present in the
ambient medium around these stars. This radiation produced by stars gives
rise to ionized H II regions, which then emit through bremsstrahlung
emission (free-free emission). Bremsstrahlung emission occurs when
electrons scatter off ions without being captured, so they are free before
and after interaction. Another emission component seen in the Galactic
Center is synchrotron emission, which is produced by energetic electrons
generated from the jet of the supermassive black hole and supernova
remnants, spiraling around magnetic field lines. Any object that is hot
gives off light, or thermal emission. When the ultraviolet radiation from
stars is absorbed by the dust, the dust is heated, and then re-radiates as
thermal emission at far-infrared wavelengths. Using the three previous
emission components, this environment was analyzed in order to identify
three main features in the Galactic Center: ionized gas, magnetic fields
and dust. Bremsstrahlung emission was used to trace H II regions (ionized
gas), synchrotron emission was used to trace magnetic field lines, and
thermal emission was used to trace the dust. After tracing these spectral
features, they were displayed, resulting in a map of the Galactic Center
showing all three of these features that can be used for further analysis
in the near future.