title: H3(+) spectroscopy and the ionization rate of molecular hydrogen in the central few parsecs of the galaxy.
abstract: We report observations and analysis of infrared spectra of H3(+) and CO lines in the Galactic center, within a few parsecs of the central black hole, Sgr A*. We find a cosmic ray ionization rate typically an order of magnitude higher than outside the Galactic center. Notwithstanding, the elevated cosmic ray ionization rate is 4 orders of magnitude too short to match the proton energy spectrum, as inferred from the recent discovery of the TeV γ-ray source in the vicinity of Sgr A*.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Sternwarte München , Scheinerstr. 1, D-81679 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Indriolo
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Geballe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usuda