Constraining the Accretion Rate onto Sagittarius A* Using Linear Polarization
Open accessAbstract
Two possible explanations for the low luminosity of the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy are (1) an accretion rate of the order of the canonical Bondi value (~10 -5 M ☉ yr -1 ) but a very low radiative efficiency for the accreting gas or (2) an accretion rate much less than the Bondi rate. Both models can explain the broadband spectrum of the Galactic center. We show that they can be distinguished using the linear polarization of synchrotron radiation. Accretion at the Bondi rate predicts no linear polarization at any frequency because of Faraday depolarization. Low accretion rate models, on the other hand, have much lower gas densities and magnetic field strengths close to the black hole; polarization may therefore be observable at high frequencies. If confirmed, a recent detection of linear polarization from Sgr A* at ≳150 GHz argues for an accretion rate of ~10 -8 M ☉ yr -1 , much less than the Bondi rate. This test can be applied to other low-luminosity galactic nuclei.
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Different theoretical models for the accretion flow produce an accretion rate in the range of 10^-9-10^-8 M⊙/yr.
“Different theoretical models for the accretion flow 9 produce an accretion rate in the range of 10 -9 -10 -8 M ⊙ yr -1 (Agol 2000; Quataert & Gruzinov 2000; Yuan et al. 2004; Marrone et al. 2007; Sharma et al. 2007).”
From The Fermi/eROSITA bubbles: a look into the nuclear outflow from the Milky Way (2024) · cites this paper as Quataert & Gruzinov 2000
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Kruijssen, J. M. D., Longmore, S. N., Elmegreen, B. G., Murray, N., Bally, J., Testi, L., & Kennicutt, R. C. (2014) · Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · doi:10.1093/mnras/stu494 · Cited by 288 · see citing works
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Self-citationThe Fermi/eROSITA bubbles: a look into the nuclear outflow from the Milky Way
Sarkar, K. C. (2024) · The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review · doi:10.1007/s00159-024-00152-1 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“Different theoretical models for the accretion flow 9 produce an accretion rate in the range of 10 − 9 − 10 − 8 M ⊙ yr − 1 (Agol 2000; Quataert & Gruzinov 2000; Yuan et al. 2004; Marrone et al. 2007; Sharma et al. 2007).”
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- Authors
- Quataert, E., & Gruzinov, A.
- Affiliations
- Institute for Advanced Study (US)
- ORCID
- Quataert, Eliot
- Venue
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Publisher
- American Astronomical Society
- Published
- 2000-12-20
- Volume
- 545
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 842-846
- ISSN
- 0004-637X (ISSN-L)
- 1538-4357
- OpenAlex
- W2084844543
- Cited by
- 189
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 7.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Astrophysical Journal (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (acceptedVersion)
- CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
- Keywords
- Sgr A*, supermassive black holes, accretion rate, Bondi accretion, linear polarization, synchrotron radiation, Faraday depolarization, Galactic Center, magnetic field, radiative efficiency
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