Polarization of X-ray emission from the Sgr B2 cloud |
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Authors: | E.Churazov R.Sunyaev S.Sazonov |
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Affiliation: | Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 1, 85741 Garching, Germany; Space Research Institute (IKI), Profsoyuznaya 84/32, Moscow 117810, Russia |
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Abstract: | The Sgr B2 giant molecular cloud is claimed to be an 'X-ray reflection nebula'– the reprocessing site of a powerful flare of the Sgr A* source, which occurred a few hundred years ago. The shape of the X-ray spectrum and the strength of the iron fluorescent line support this hypothesis. We argue that the cleanest test of the origin of X-rays from Sgr B2 would be a detection of polarized emission from this source. |
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Keywords: | polarization scattering ISM: individual: Sgr B2 Galaxy: centre X-rays: general |
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