Dust emission in the Galactic center

Abstract

We conducted a survey of the 800 μm continuum emission from ∼15°×0.2° area around the Galactic center. The 800 μm continuum emission, which traces temperature weighted column density of dust, shows a strong asymmetry between the positive and negative galactic longitudes, similar to that seen in the molecular data; the bulk of the emission occurs at the positive galactic longitudes. One of the most interesting features in the 800 μm map is a clumpy ridge of emission apparently connecting Sgr B2 and the Radio Continuum Arc. A molecular counterpart of this ridge can be seen in the CS J=2→1 data. The ridge contains a number of dust cores without identified far–infrared sources or compact H II regions. These dust cores may be unusually cold.