This paper presents a detailed observational study of the most prominent thermal component of the radio Arc located near the Galactic center, the 'arched filaments'. Images produced from data gathered at 6 and 20 cm reveal that the arched filaments have a wispy, flocculent character that is quite different from the uniform, continuous, and almost straight filaments of the nonthermal portion of the Arc. The two systems of filaments show clear signs of interaction at their intersection. There is no evidence from the radio maps that the arched filaments are linked to the Galactic nucleus. Various ideas for the ionization mechanism of the arched filaments are considered. It is suggested that the ionization is caused by a magnetohydrodynamic interaction between a molecular cloud with a large peculiar velocity and an ambient poloidal magnetic field of milligauss strength.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Morris et al. (1989) studied this question.