An Imaging and Spectral Study of Ten X-Ray Filaments around the Galactic Center

We report the detection of 10 new X-ray filaments using the data from the Chandra X-ray satellite for the inner 6 (∼ 15 parsec) around the Galactic center (GC). All these X-ray filaments are characterized by non-thermal energy spectra, and most of them have point-like features at their heads that point inward. Fitted with the simple absorbed power-law model, the measured X-ray flux from an individual filament in the 2 − 10 keV band is ∼ 2.8 × 10 to 10 ergs cm s and the absorption-corrected X-ray luminosity is ∼ 10 − 10 ergs s at a presumed distance of 8 kpc to the GC. We speculate the origin(s) of these filaments by morphologies and by comparing their X-ray images with the corresponding radio and infrared images. On the basis of combined information available, we suspect that these X-ray filaments might be pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) associated with pulsars of age 10 ∼ 3× 10 yr. The fact that most of the filament tails point outward may further suggest a high velocity wind blowing away form the GC. Subject headings: Galaxy: center — ISM: magnetic fields — ISM: supernova remnants— pulsars: general — shock waves — X-rays: ISM