| Description |
We will investigate the inflow of matter in the
bulge of the Milky Way using the HIFI and PACS instruments on
Herschel to observe [C II], [N II], [O I],
[O III], and high-J CO emission lines to determine the
relationship between central black holes and their host galactic
bulges and thus the causes and mechanisms of starbursts. As
Binney et al. (1991) have suggested, the gas in closed orbits in the bar
of the Milky Way provides a means to study in detail the accretion
processes leading to starbursts and active galactic nuclei. Shocks
effectively transfer some fraction of the clouds. orbital kinetic
energy into heat which escapes through dust continuum and line
emission. By measuring this emission and characterizing the star
formation that occurs under these unusual conditions, we can
estimate the amount of orbital energy that has been dissipated and
constrain estimates of the mass inflow from the decaying orbits.
For this purpose high velocity resolution observations of
interstellar cooling lines are required. In the following proposal
we discuss how HIFI and PACS observations of [C II],
[N II], [O I], [O III], and high-J CO lines
can be combined with existing radio emission line surveys and
far-infrared continuum surveys to identify and estimate the energy
loss and resulting infall motions from clumps in the inner galaxy.
Using existing submillimeter-wave spectral line surveys, we are able
to identify those regions lying between 2 kpc and 200 pc of the
Galactic center that are emitting significant terahertz line
radiation, and we can therefore accomplish a comprehensive
characterization of gas in the inner galaxy using pointed Herschel
observations. As ALMA comes online, we will be able to
use the understanding produced by this study to understand the gas
dynamics of other galaxies and properly place them in context. |
