by Andreas Eckart (University of Cologne, Germany), Rainer Schödel (University of Cologne, Germany), & Christian Straubmeier (University of Cologne, Germany)

Table of Contents (173k)
Chapter 1: 0bservational Techniques (1,506k)

Reviewing the fundamental instrumental techniques and current observational results, this book unveils the mysteries of the physical processes in the central parsec of our Milky Way: the super-massive black hole embedded in a central stellar cluster as well as the gas and dust in the circumnuclear region.

The observations described cover the entire electromagnetic spectrum from decimeter radio-waves to high energy X-ray and γ-rays, and a comprehensive summary of up-to-date astrophysical interpretations is given.

The emphasis is put on observational techniques, image processing aspects, and a detailed presentation of the most cutting-edge work carried out in the near-infrared wavelength regime. These recent results include both the first orbits of stars around the central black hole and the multiwavelength variability of the central source.

• Observational Techniques:The GC Across the Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • NIR Imaging Through the Atmosphere
  • Speckle Imaging
  • Single Telescope Adaptive Optics
  • Cleaning and Deconvolution
  • Future IR Interferometry
• Observational Results:
  • The Discovery of Sagittarius A^∗
  • Large-Scale Structures at the Galactic Center
  • The Circum Nuclear Disk
  • The Mini-Spiral
  • Radio Filaments
  • Near-Infrared Images of the Central Stellar Cluster
  • The Radio and Infrared Positional Reference Frames
  • Number Density Counts
  • Polarization of Filaments and Stars
  • Stellar Velocities and Orbital Accelerations
  • Spectroscopy
  • Star Formation at the Galactic Center?
  • Sgr A^∗ Across the Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Astrophysical Results:
  • The Stellar Velocity Field
  • Scenarios for Star Formation at the Galactic Center
  • The Central Dark Mass
  • Stability of the Enclosed Dark Mass
  • Agglomerations of Exotic Particles?
  • The Central Stellar Cusp
  • Analysis of Stellar Orbits Near the Central Black Hole
  • The Central Black Hole
  • Comparison to Nuclei of Other Galaxies
  • Massive Black Holes at High Redshifts