A mean density of $112\, M_{\odot}\,\rm pc^{-3}$ for Central Molecular Zone clumps -- Evidences for shear-enabled pressure equilibrium in the Galactic Center

TL;DR

This study reveals that molecular clumps in the Galactic Center's Central Molecular Zone have a characteristic density consistent with shear-enabled pressure equilibrium, which may explain the region's low star formation efficiency.

Contribution

It provides the first systematic measurement of clump densities in the CMZ and links these to shear and pressure equilibrium, highlighting a new understanding of star formation suppression.

Findings

Clumps follow a mass-radius scaling indicating a characteristic density of 112 M_sun/pc^3.

Density variation among clumps is approximately 0.5 dex.

Higher density clumps near Sgr B2 suggest collision-induced formation processes.

Abstract

We carry out a systematic study of the density structure of gas in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) in the Galactic center by extracting clumps from the APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy survey at 870 $\mu$m. We find that the clumps follow a scaling of $m = \rho_0 r^3$ which corresponds to a characteristic density of $n_{\rm H_2} = 1.6 \times 10^3\,\rm cm^{-3}$ ($\rho_0 =112\;M_{\odot}\;\rm pc^{-3}$) with a variation of $\approx 0.5\,\rm dex$, where we assumed a gas-to-dust mass ratio of 100. This characteristic density can be interpreted as the result of thermal pressure equilibrium between the molecular gas and the warm ambient interstellar medium. Such an equilibrium can plausibly be established since shear has approximately the same strength as self-gravity. Our findings may explain the fact that star formation in the CMZ is highly inefficient compared to the rest of the Milky Way disk. We also identify a population of clumps whose densities are two orders of magnitudes higher in the vicinity of the Sgr B2 region, which we propose are produced by collisions between the clumps of lower densities. For these collisions to occur, processes such as compressive tides probably have created the appropriate condition by assembling the clumps together.