Three-dimensional structure of the central molecular zone

Abstract

ABSTRACT A detailed comparison of H i and CO line cube data of the Galactic Centre (GC) region from the archives is obtained. The central molecular zone (CMZ) is shown to be embedded in the H i disc (central H i zone, CHZ) of radius ∼320 pc and vertical scale height ∼70 pc. A radio continuum belt is shown to run parallel to molecular Arms I and II. The belt draws a double infinity (∞∞) on the sky, connecting Sgr E (l ∼ −1${_{.}^{\circ}}$2), C, B1, B2, and Sgr D (+1${_{.}^{\circ}}$2), and is interpreted as a warping star-forming ring. The molecular Arms are closely associated with the H i arms on the longitude-velocity diagram (LVD), showing coherent rigid-body ridges. Due to the close relationship between H i and CO, the H i line absorption can be used to determine the Arms’ position relative to Sgr A, B1, B2, and C. Combining the trigonometric data of proper motions of Sgr A* and maser sources of Sgr B2 as well as radial velocities, the 3D velocity vector of Sgr B2 is determined. From these analyses, the molecular Arm I with Sgr B2 is shown to be located in the near side of Sgr A*, and Arm II with Sgr C in the other side, both composing a pair of symmetrical Arms around the GC. We present a possible 3D view of Sgr A through E and Arms I and II along with a parameter list.