Hot Molecular Gas in the Central 10 Parsecs of the Galaxy

We present results from observations of NH3(1,1), (2,2), (3,3), and (6,6) with the Very Large Array. The data sample the inner 10 pc (4′) of the Galaxy and have a velocity coverage of –140 to +130 km s−1. The velocity integrated NH3(3,3) image shows that the Sgr A East supernova remnant is impacting the 50 km s−1 GMC in the northeast, the northern ridge in the north, and the western streamer in the west. These results imply that the Sgr A East has a large effect on the molecular environment near Sgr A* and may be pushing much of the molecular gas away from Sgr A*. The physical properties of the western streamer and its relation to Sgr A East are discussed in detail. We also summarize the detection of hot molecular gas less than 2 pc from Sgr A* in projected distance. This gas is seen only in NH3(6,6) and has line widths of 75–85 km s−1, indicating that it is physically close to the nucleus.