On the nature of the fast moving star S2 in the Galactic Center

F. Martins(1), S. Gillessen(1), F. Eisenhauer(1), R. Genzel(1,2), T. Ott(1), S. Trippe(1)


(1) Max Planck Institute of Extraterrestrial Physics, Postfach 1312, D-85741, Garching, Germany
(2) Department of Physics, University of California, CA 94720, Berkeley, USA

Paper: ApJL, accepted

EPrint Server: 0711.3344


Abstract:

We analyze the properties of the star S2 orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center of the Galaxy. A high quality SINFONI H and K band spectrum obtained from coadding 23.5 hours of observation between 2004 and 2007 reveals that S2 is an early B dwarf (B0-2.5V). Using model atmospheres, we constrain its stellar and wind properties. We show that S2 is a genuine massive star, and not the core of a stripped giant star as sometimes speculated to resolve the problem of star formation so close to the supermassive black hole. We give an upper limit on its mass loss rate, and show that it is He enriched, possibly because of the presence of a magnetic field.


Preprints available from the authors at martins@mpe.mpg.de , or the raw TeX (no figures) if you click here.

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