Anisotropy in the Angular Broadening of Sgr a * at the Galactic Center

We present the results of a λ20 cm VLA observation of the compact Galactic center radio source Sgr A. The scatter-broadened image is elongated in the East-West direction, with an axial ratio of 0.6±0.05 and a position angle of 87±3. A similar shape and orientation has been found previously at shorter wavelengths using VLBI and VLBA. Both the major and minor axes follow the λ law appropriate for scattering by turbulence in the intervening medium. Assuming that the anisotropy is caused by a magnetic field permeating the scattering medium, we argue that the scattering occurs within extended HII regions lying in the central 100 pc of the Galaxy. The magnetic field in this region must be poloidal, organized and is estimated to have a strength of at least 30 to 100 μGauss. Subject headings: galaxies: ISM— Galaxy: center —ISM: individual (Sgr A, IRS 16)