Detection of large-scale X-ray bubbles in the Milky Way halo

Predehl P, Sunyaev RA, Becker W, Brunner H, Burenin R, Bykov A, Cherepashchuk A, Chugai N, Churazov E, Doroshenko V, Eismont N, Freyberg M, Gilfanov M, Haberl F, Khabibullin I, Krivonos R, Maitra C, Medvedev P, Merloni A, Nandra K, Nazarov V, Pavlinsky M, Ponti G, Sanders JS, Sasaki M, Sazonov S, Strong AW, Wilms J (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Nature Nature Research

Book Volume: 588

Pages Range: 227-231

Journal Issue: 7837

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2979-0

Abstract

The halo of the Milky Way provides a laboratory to study the properties of the shocked hot gas that is predicted by models of galaxy formation. There is observational evidence of energy injection into the halo from past activity in the nucleus of the Milky Way^1–4; however, the origin of this energy (star formation or supermassive-black-hole activity) is uncertain, and the causal connection between nuclear structures and large-scale features has not been established unequivocally. Here we report soft-X-ray-emitting bubbles that extend approximately 14 kiloparsecs above and below the Galactic centre and include a structure in the southern sky analogous to the North Polar Spur. The sharp boundaries of these bubbles trace collisionless and non-radiative shocks, and corroborate the idea that the bubbles are not a remnant of a local supernova⁵ but part of a vast Galaxy-scale structure closely related to features seen in γ-rays⁶. Large energy injections from the Galactic centre⁷ are the most likely cause of both the γ-ray and X-ray bubbles. The latter have an estimated energy of around 10⁵⁶ erg, which is sufficient to perturb the structure, energy content and chemical enrichment of the circumgalactic medium of the Milky Way.

Authors with CRIS profile

Manami Sasaki Professur für Multiwellenlängenastronomie Jörn Wilms Professur für Astronomie und Astrophysik

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) / Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

Germany (DE) Russian Space Research Institute / Институт космических исследований Российской академии наук (IKI RAN)

Russian Federation (RU) Institute of Astronomy (INASAN) / Federal State Institution of Science Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Russian Federation (RU) Lomonosov Moscow State University / Московский государственный университет имени М.В.Ломоносова

Russian Federation (RU) Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute / Физико-технический институт имени А. Ф. Иоффе РАН

Russian Federation (RU)

How to cite

APA:

Predehl, P., Sunyaev, R.A., Becker, W., Brunner, H., Burenin, R., Bykov, A.,... Wilms, J. (2020). Detection of large-scale X-ray bubbles in the Milky Way halo. Nature, 588(7837), 227-231. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2979-0

MLA:

Predehl, P., et al. "Detection of large-scale X-ray bubbles in the Milky Way halo." Nature 588.7837 (2020): 227-231.

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