What Secrets Does the Milky Way's Core Jet Reveal About Galactic Dynamics?

AI Thread Summary
The Milky Way's core is characterized by a relativistic jet produced by its supermassive black hole, driving material at speeds of 2 million miles per hour. Observations indicate three distinct flows of material: one moving towards Earth, one moving away, and one with no net motion along the line of sight. This suggests the presence of a vertical jet outflow from the galactic plane, potentially creating a bubble of evacuated matter behind a shock front. The origins of the bipolar lobes may stem from either a star birth firestorm or the black hole's eruption, but they are more accurately described as expanding spherical bubbles rather than traditional jets. The distinct groups of material observed indicate a complex dynamic rather than a smooth distribution, challenging comparisons to jets seen in other galaxies.
TEFLing
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Milky Way core drives wind at 2 million miles per hour -- ScienceDaily
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150105182525.htmThe article graphic shows three distinct flows of material...

One moving towards earth
One moving away from earth
And
One with no net motion along the line of sight to earth

Does that mean, that there is a large and columnar vertical jet outflow, up and away from the galactic plane...

Surrounded by a void, evacuated of matter...

Which is behind a shock front, expanding away from the jet?
 
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TEFLing said:
Does that mean, that there is a large and columnar vertical jet outflow, up and away from the galactic plane...
Yes, it's measuring the Relativistic jet produced by the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy.

EDIT: The article suggests
two possible origins for the bipolar lobes: a firestorm of star birth at the Milky Way's center or the eruption of its supermassive black hole.
It's more accurate to say that it might be measuring a bubble created by the Relativistic jet. However, I will defer to Dave or another Science Advisor for better wording or corrections.
 
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TEFLing said:
Does that mean, that there is a large and columnar vertical jet outflow, up and away from the galactic plane...

That's not what the diagram is telling youimagine a balloon being held at arms length from you and being inflated
the region facing you is moving towards you and that motion tails off as you look around to the sides
the sides have a relative motion that is perpendicular to the line of sight from earth
and finally the far side of the balloon (from you) is moving away from youI see no indication of the presence of "jets" as seen from some other galaxies eg. M87 or Centaurus A

EDIT---- as I stated and you linked to Borg

just expanding spherical bubbles of material

Dave
 
Your description aptly explains Line Broadening.

But, in that case, the curve is smooth and continuous, looking like a Gaussian distribution function. There are no breaks in the distribution.

In this case, for the Milky Way jets, there are three distinct groups of material, with no smooth transition between them.
 
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