The galactic center arc as source of high-energy gamma-rays

Abstract

We discuss the radio {\it arc} at the galactic center to be the counterpart of the high-energy \gr source 2EG J1746-2852. The observed \gr flux is constant within the statistical limits and the spectrum is very hard. The lack of variability makes it highly unlikely that any of the compact sources in the vicinity of the Galactic Center is the counterpart of 2EG J1746-2852. This includes the peculiar source Sgr A$^\ast$ at the very center of the Galaxy, which is often discussed to harbour a black hole of $10^6\, M_\odot$. Existing radio data on the {\it arc} support the view that its synchrotron emission originates from cooling, initially monoenergetic electrons which diffuse and convect from their sources to the outer extensions of the {\it arc}. If the source of high-energy electrons coincides with the sickle region (G0.18-0.04), as indicated by the radio data, then the ambient far- infrared photons can be up-scattered to \grs by inverse-Compton inter- action with the young high-energy electrons. We solve the continuity equation for the electrons including terms for diffusion, convection, monoenergetic injection, and the full energy loss. We show that both the flux and the spectrum of 2EG J1746-2852 can be well explained.