Flaring up of the compact cloud G2 during the close encounter with Sgr A*

Abstract

A compact gas cloud G2 is predicted to reach the pericenter of its orbit around the supermassive black hole (SMBH) of our Galaxy, Sagittarius A*. This event will give us a rare opportunity to observe the interaction between the SMBH and the gas around it. We report on the result of a fully three-dimensional simulation of the evolution of G2 during the first pericenter passage. The strong tidal force from the SMBH stretches the cloud along its orbit, and strongly compresses it in the vertical direction, resulting in its heating up and flaring up. The bolometric luminosity will reach a maximum of ∼ 100 Lȯ. This flare should be easily observed in the near-IR. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Astronomical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.