Constraining the Flaring Region of Sagittarius A* By 1.3mm VLBI Measurements

Abstract

We use a model of an accretion flow coupled with an emergent flare to interpret the latest 1.3mm VLBI measurements for Sagittarius A*. The visibility data constrained the distances from the flare center to the black hole center as $d_{\rm EW}\lesssim20{\rm R_g}$ and $d_{\rm NS}\lesssim80{\rm R_g}$ in the East-West and North-South directions, respectively. If interpreted by the hot-spot model, the flare was preferred to pass in front of the black hole at a radius much larger than $d_{\rm EW}$. If interpreted by the episodic jet launched from a nearly edge-on hot accretion flow, the flare was preferred to be ejected with $\theta_{\rm j}\gtrsim40^\circ$ off the black hole rotating axis. This method can be generalized to help us understand future sub-millimeter VLBI observations, and study the millimeter/sub-millimeter variabilities in the vicinity of the Galactic Center supermassive black hole.