Nuclear Activity and the Conditions of Star-formation at the Galactic Center

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent observational and simulation results on the Galactic Center, focusing on Sagittarius A* and the star formation conditions in the central stellar cluster across multiple wavelengths.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive summary of multi-wavelength observational data and simulations, elucidating the accretion processes and star formation environment near the SMBH.

Findings

SgrA* system has a well-ordered geometry and emission process.

Variability and polarization data suggest a stable accretion orientation.

Conditions for star formation are characterized in the central stellar cluster.

Abstract

The Galactic Center is the closest galactic nucleus that can be studied with unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity. We summarize recent basic observational results on Sagittarius A* and the conditions for star formation in the central stellar cluster. We cover results from the radio, infrared, and X-ray domain and include results from simulation as well. From (sub-)mm and near-infrared variability and near-infrared polarization data we find that the SgrA* system (supermassive black hole spin, a potential temporary accretion disk and/or outflow) is well ordered in its geometrical orientation and in its emission process that we assume to reflect the accretion process onto the supermassive black hole (SMBH).