Astrophysics Colloquium: Our Galaxy’s Dynamic Center

Abstract: Galaxy centers are the hubs of activity that drive galaxy evolution, from supermassive black holes to feedback from dense stellar clusters. The Central Molecular Zone (CMZ; inner 300 pc of the Milky Way) is the way station that inherits gas flowing inwards from the disk and regulates how much forms stars, is channeled toward the supermassive black hole SgrA*, or is ejected through feedback. However, attempts to uncover the rates of this mass-energy cycle have been thwarted by a limited understanding of the 3D gas flows and structures in the region. By combining data across the electromagnetic spectrum with magneto-hydrodynamic simulations, we present a unified framework for establishing the 3D structure of the CMZ. This model can be used to constrain past flaring events from SgrA*, search for gas inflowing towards the nucleus, and understand why the CMZ is forming 10x fewer stars than expected. I will also introduce PRIMA, a far-IR space telescope concept recently selected by NASA to move to Phase B of development, and the cool science we can hope to do with it.