Prof Farhad Yusef-Zadeh (Northwestern University)

A Coordinated Multi-wavelength Experiment to Observe the Variability of Sgr A* - Prof Farhad Yusef-Zadeh Colloquium

ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

It is now believed that the compact radio source Sgr A* at the
Galactic center coincides with a massive 3.7 million solar mass black
hole. In this talk, I will describe the results of a multi-wavelength
campaign in March and September 2004 to observe the variability of
Sgr A*. The flare activity is studied in radio, sub-millimeter,
near-infrared and X-ray wavelengths using a number of telescopes
including the VLA, XMM, HST, CSO and SMT. These measurements show a
low-level of flare activity over a wide range of wavelengths.
Simultaneous detection of X-ray and near-IR emission resulting from
low-level X-ray and near-IR flare activity suggests that inverse
Compton scattering of near-IR flare emission may be the origin of the
X-ray activity.