Understanding the interstellar medium of the Galactic Center region through large-scale observations – Denise Riquelme

The Galactic Center (GC) serves as a unique, nearby laboratory for studying the extreme physics governing galactic nuclei. Yet, fundamental questions about its gas dynamics, suppressed star formation, and the interplay between large-scale inflows and outflows remain. This talk presents a new, panoramic view of the GC’s interstellar medium (ISM), drawing on several recent and ongoing large-scale observational surveys that provide unprecedented sensitivity and coverage.

We showcase results from three key projects. First, using the most sensitive APEX CO mapping of the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), we decompose the region into its constituent structures, revealing a cloud population an order of magnitude larger than previously cataloged. Second, we present the first-ever large-scale, spectrally-resolved [CII] 158 µm map of the CMZ from the SOFIA telescope. These legacy data trace ionized gas in HII regions and dense atomic gas in photodissociation regions (PDRs), revealing the detailed impact of stellar feedback, including a prominent, expanding shell in Sgr C. Finally, we introduce the MODULO survey, a CO(2-1) survey with the APEX telescope of the intermediate-latitude regions surrounding the CMZ. This new survey is designed to bridge the gap between the CMZ and its larger environment by focusing on two key physical processes: characterizing gas inflow and its impact on star formation, and identifying and characterizing the molecular component of Galactic outflows.