# G359.87+0.18: An FR II Radio Galaxy 15 Arcminutes from Sgr A∗. Implications for the Scattering Region in the Galactic Center

## 1 Introduction

The observed diameter of Sgr A, the compact source in the Galactic center (GC), scales as $`\lambda ^2`$, as expected if interstellar scattering from microstructure in the electron density determines the observed diameter (Davies, Walsh, & Booth 1976). The observed diameter of Sgr A is now known to scale as $`\lambda ^2`$ from 30 cm to 3 mm and to be anisotropic at least over the wavelength range 21 cm to 7 mm (Backer et al. (1993); Krichbaum et al. (1993); Rogers et al. (1994); Yusef-Zadeh et al. (1994); Bower & Backer (1998)). Maser spots in OH/IR stars within 25′ of Sgr A also show enhanced, anisotropic angular broadening (van Langevelde et al. (1992); Frail et al. (1994)). These observations indicate that a region of enhanced scattering with an angular extent of at least 25′ in radius (60 pc at 8.5 kpc) is along the line of sight to the Galactic center. Assuming that the region covers the Galactic center uniformly, the scattering diameter of an extragalactic source seen through this region should be larger than those of Galactic sources by the ratio $`D_{\mathrm{GC}}/\mathrm{\Delta }_{\mathrm{GC}}`$, where $`D_{\mathrm{GC}}`$ is the Sun-GC distance and $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{\mathrm{GC}}`$ is the GC-scattering region separation (van Langevelde et al. (1992)). Lazio & Cordes (1998a, b) constrain this ratio to be $`D_{\mathrm{GC}}/\mathrm{\Delta }_{\mathrm{GC}}50`$, so that an extragalactic source seen through this scattering region should have a diameter of at least 75″ at 1 GHz.

In their analysis, Lazio & Cordes (1998a, b) paid particular attention to the source G359.87$`+`$0.18. First identified by Isaacman (1981, source 35W44) and Yusef-Zadeh & Morris (1987, source J), G359.87$`+`$0.18 was initially (and tentatively) classified as extragalactic by Anantharamaiah et al. (1991, p. 280). Their identification of this source as extragalactic was based on its compact morphology and flux density of 0.58 Jy at 0.33 GHz. This extragalactic classification was further strengthened by 8.5 and 15 GHz observations by W. M. Goss & K. R. Anantharamaiah (1990, unpublished) showing the source to have a Fanaroff-Riley II radio galaxy morphology with a 4″ separation between components.

Based on 0.33 and 1.4 GHz images of the source, Lazio & Cordes (1998a) pointed out that the source could not be extragalactic *and* affected by the hyperstrong scattering region responsible for the enhanced angular broadening of Sgr A and the OH masers. They suggested that the source might be an X-ray–quiet version of a Galactic jet source, like 1E1740.7$``$2942 (Mirabel et al. (1992)). Yusef-Zadeh, Cotton, & Reynolds (1998a) have recently considered a number of classifications for the source including young supernova remnant, radio supernova, or nova remnant, based on high-resolution, total intensity images at 15 GHz and polarized intensity images at 5 GHz. They did not make an unambiguous classification, but favored a young supernova remnant as most likely.

This paper reports new high resolution images of G359.87$`+`$0.18 between 0.33 and 15 GHz and an H I absorption spectrum. We shall conclude that the source is most likely to be an extragalactic source. In §2 we present the new observations. In §3 we summarize why we believe that G359.87$`+`$0.18 is likely to be extragalactic, §4 discusses what this implies for the scattering region in the GC, and in §5 we present our conclusions. Throughout we assume that the Galactic center is at distance of 8.5 kpc, implying that $`1\mathrm{}=2.5`$ pc. We also use the convention that the spectral index $`\alpha `$ is given by $`S\nu ^\alpha `$.

## 2 Summary of Observations

Our observations of the source G359.87$`+`$0.18 span 0.33 to 15 GHz. Some of the observations are new, while in other cases, we have re-analyzed existing data to obtain higher resolutions or dynamic ranges. Table 1 is our observing log. A summary of lower-resolution observations of G359.87$`+`$0.18 is contained in Lazio & Cordes (1998a).

Image analysis was within aips using standard reduction procedures, except where noted. We discuss each frequency separately.

### 2.1 0.33 GHz

As part of a search for radio pulsars in the GC, we observed Sgr A at 0.33 GHz with the VLA in the A configuration. The radio pulsar survey will be described elsewhere (Lazio et al. (1998)). The FWHM primary beam of the VLA at 0.33 GHz is 2$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$5, large enough that little primary beam attenuation occurs over the 15′ distance between Sgr A and G359.87$`+`$0.18. However, at 0.33 GHz the VLA can no longer be considered co-planar, and the standard assumption of a two-dimensional Fourier transform relation between the measured visibilities and the sky brightness distribution is no longer valid (Cornwell & Perley (1992)).

We imaged G359.87$`+`$0.18 using the program dragon within NRAO’s Software Development Environment. Rather than attempt to image the entire primary beam, dragon allows small portions of the sky to be imaged (Cornwell & Perley (1992)). For each small image patch dragon inserts an appropriate phase shift, thereby restoring the validity of the assumption of co-planar baselines. Figure 1 shows the image patch containing G359.87$`+`$0.18 and the thread G359.79$`+`$0.17 to the south.

At 0.33 GHz G359.87$`+`$0.18 appears as a single, resolved component. Below we shall identify the appearance at 0.33 GHz as due partially to scattering.

The integrated flux density for G359.87$`+`$0.18 is 0.24 Jy. This value is only 40% of that determined by Anantharamaiah et al. (1991, 0.58 Jy) from VLA observations. This difference arises because we use data solely from the A configuration while they used data from both A- and B configurations. The B configuration is more compact than the A configuration, so the source is not as strongly resolved; the flux density reported by Anantharamaiah et al. (1991) is therefore more accurate.

### 2.2 1.5 GHz

We observed G359.87$`+`$0.18 with the VLA at 1.42 and 1.66 GHz. The data from the two frequencies were calibrated separately and combined before imaging. Figure 2 shows the resulting image.

G359.87$`+`$0.18 consists of three, nearly collinear components. In keeping with the nomenclature of Yusef-Zadeh et al. (1998a), the stronger component to the northeast is component A, the central component is component B, and the faint, previously-unrecognized component to the southwest is component C. While nearly collinear, the source is asymmetric, with component C at a larger distance from component B than is component A. Component C is also resolved with an extension pointing toward the two other components, while components A and B are, at best, only slightly resolved. The apparent connection between components A and B is an artifact of the beam, $`2\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}5\times 1\mathrm{}`$.

### 2.3 8.5 GHz

We observed G359.87$`+`$0.18 for 105 min. on 1998 March 11 and April 11 with the VLA. All three components were detected. Furthermore, in the images from both days, component B showed a faint, jet-like feature pointing toward component A. There was no variation either in the structure or in the flux density of the components between 1998 March 11 and April 11. Figure 3a shows the high-resolution image of G359.87$`+`$0.18 formed by combining the observations from these two epochs.

We also reprocessed a lower resolution, 30-min. observation of G359.87$`+`$0.18 acquired with the VLA on 1990 October 12. Figure 3b shows the image formed by combining all data from the 1990 and 1998 observations. The lower resolution data are more sensitive to extended structure, and component C is now more easily detected.

### 2.4 15 GHz

We acquired a total of 7 hr of observation on G359.87$`+`$0.18 in 1998 April with the VLA. The images made from the individual observations show only components A and B. There is no variation in the structure on the three days. We also reprocessed a lower resolution, 30-min. observation of G359.87$`+`$0.18 acquired with the VLA on 1990 October 12.

Figure 4 shows the image produced from the combined 1990 and 1998 data. Component A is resolved into a two sub-components, with one of the two being edge-brightened. The line joining the two sub-components is at an angle of 70° to the axis of the large-scale morphology. Component B remains unresolved, but the jet-like feature is no longer present, indicating that it has a steep spectrum. We find a spectral index $`\alpha <2.8`$, though with considerable uncertainty ($`20`$–30%). Our estimate for the flux density of the jet at 8.5 GHz may be contaminated by flux from the central part of component B, which would make the spectrum of the jet appear steeper than it actually is.

### 2.5 H I Absorption Spectrum

We re-analyzed VLA archive H I absorption spectra made toward Sgr A (Plante, Lo, & Crutcher 1991). G359.87$`+`$0.18 is sufficiently close to Sgr A that the primary beam attenuation is approximately 50%, and the delay beam attenuation is not significant. Thus, we were able to obtain a spectrum for both G359.87$`+`$0.18 and Sgr A. The spectra toward these two sources are shown in Figure 5.

The $`50`$ (“3-kpc arm”) and $`+40`$ km s<sup>-1</sup> features are seen in both spectra. Absorption is also seen at 0 km s<sup>-1</sup> toward both sources, but the width of the absorption line is about twice as wide toward G359.87$`+`$0.18 as it is toward Sgr A (40 km s<sup>-1</sup> vs. 20 km s<sup>-1</sup>). The large width of the 0 km s<sup>-1</sup> gas towards G359.87$`+`$0.18 is similar to that seen toward B1739$``$298 ($`\mathrm{}=358\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}92`$, $`b=0\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}07`$), an extragalactic source approximately 1° away from Sgr A (Dickey et al. (1983)). In both cases the large width of the gas at 0 km s<sup>-1</sup> may be a blend of two components—one centered near 0 km s<sup>-1</sup>, the other near $`20`$ km s<sup>-1</sup>. The gas at $`20`$ km s<sup>-1</sup> does not appear in the spectrum of Sgr A and presumably lies beyond Sgr A.

## 3 Identification of G359.87$`+`$0.18 as an FR II Radio Galaxy

We classify G359.87$`+`$0.18 as extragalactic, most likely an FR II radio galaxy. Our classification is motivated by four criteria: morphology, spectrum, polarization, and lack of structural or flux density variation. We have also been able to place crude limits on the distance to the source, which are consistent with it being extragalactic.

### 3.1 Morphology

The source clearly shows the morphology of an FR II source. Our 1.5 and 8.5 GHz images (Figures 2 and 3b) show two components (A and C) surrounding a central component (B), which we identify as the core of the source. Our highest resolution, 15 GHz image (Figure 4) resolves component A into two sub-components, one of which is possibly an edge-brightened hot spot. At 8.5 GHz, component C is elongated in the direction toward component B, and component B has a steep-spectrum, jet-like feature pointed toward component A (Figure 3a). The source is asymmetric; the separation between components A and B is 4″, and the separation between components B and C is 9″. This asymmetry could reflect a number of effects: the orientation of the source with respect to the line of sight, inhomogeneities in the ambient medium, and precession of the jet. A denser medium surrounding component A might also explain why it is considerably brighter than component C.

Within component A the line joining the two hot spots is oriented at an angle of approximately 70° to the line joining components A and B. Such misalignment is a common feature of FR II radio galaxies and is thought to result from changes in the jet orientation (Carilli & Barthel (1996)).

### 3.2 Spectrum

At frequencies higher than 1.5 GHz, all components of G359.87$`+`$0.18 have extremely steep spectra, $`\alpha 1`$. Figure 6 shows the spectra of the individual components and of the entire source, as derived from our measurements, and Table 2 tabulates the flux density of the components. Over the frequency range 1.5–15 GHz, component A has a spectral index of $`1.1`$, component B has a spectral index of $`0.7`$, and, between 1.5 and 8.5 GHz, component C has a spectral index of $`1.1`$. At 15 GHz we can place only an upper limit ($`5\sigma `$) of 0.24 mJy on the flux density of component C, which is slightly lower than that expected by an extrapolation of its spectrum, namely 0.3 mJy. Using Anantharamaiah et al.’s (1991) value for the 0.33 GHz flux density of 0.58 Jy and assuming that all three components contribute to the flux at 0.33 GHz, the spectrum flattens between 0.33 and 1.5 GHz with $`\alpha 0.8`$.

Though our flux density measurements at different frequencies were obtained from observations with differing resolutions—with the exception of the 0.33 GHz observations (§2.1)—the components are sufficiently compact that this should introduce little error. In order to verify that this is the case, we have compared flux density measurements made at 8.5 GHz, determined both with and without the 1990 observations. The lower resolution 1990 observations should be more sensitive to extended flux that might be missed in our higher resolution 1998 observations. We find that the flux density measurements, determined with and without the 1990 observations, agree to within 10% for both components A and B.

Yusef-Zadeh et al. (1998a) used matched resolution, nearly simultaneous observations to find $`\alpha _\mathrm{A}=1.6`$ and $`\alpha _\mathrm{B}=1.3`$ for components A and B, respectively, between 5 and 15 GHz. Lazio & Cordes (1998a) find $`\alpha _\mathrm{A}1`$ for component A over the frequency range 0.33–15 GHz, though they used flux density measurements made at differing resolutions at different epochs and assumed that component A was responsible for all of the flux at 0.33 GHz (viz. §4.1).

Radio sources with $`\alpha <1`$ belong to the class of ultra-steep spectrum (USS) sources (Röttgering et al. (1994)). Members of this class include distant radio galaxies, head-tail galaxies, galaxy cluster radio halos, “fading” radio galaxies, and pulsars. Of these, G359.87$`+`$0.18 is most likely to be a distant radio galaxy; it does not have the morphology of a head-tail galaxy, both radio halos and fading radio galaxies are quite rare, and the lack of variation (see below) indicates that it is probably not Galactic. In addition to its spectrum, G359.87$`+`$0.18 has two other characteristics typical of USS, distant radio galaxies (Röttgering et al. (1994)): First, the majority of USS sources consist of more than one component, with 10% being triples. Second, the 12″ separation between components A and C is comparable to the median angular size of USS radio sources—for USS radio sources having a 0.33 GHz flux density of 0.5 Jy, the median angular size at 1.4 GHz is approximately 10″.

An extrapolation of the high-frequency spectrum of G359.87$`+`$0.18 to 0.33 GHz predicts a flux density of 0.8 Jy, in contrast to the observed value of of 0.58 Jy (Anantharamaiah et al. (1991)). We can identify both intrinsic and extrinsic causes for such a high-frequency steepening of the source’s spectrum. The intrinsic cause would be a depletion of the high-energy electrons responsible for the synchrotron emission. This depletion could result from effects such as inverse Compton losses from the radiation field of the central engine (e.g., Blundell & Lacy (1995)) or from a higher cosmic background radiation field at earlier epochs (e.g., Carilli et al. (1998)). The extrinsic cause would be free-free absorption in the GC. An optical depth of $`\tau 0.3`$ at 0.33 GHz would be sufficient to account for this difference. Optical depths $`\tau 1`$ at 0.33 GHz are seen elsewhere in the GC, e.g., near the radio arch (Anantharamaiah et al. (1991)), and an extended, low-density H II region covers the inner degree or so of the GC (Mezger & Pauls (1979); Anish Roshi & Anantharamaiah (1997); see also §4.3). From our limited spectral coverage of the source’s spectrum, however, we cannot distinguish between these various possibilities.

### 3.3 Polarization

Yusef-Zadeh et al. (1998a) show that the edge-brightened areas in component A are significantly polarized (6–16%) at 5 GHz. This level of polarization is consistent with that seen in the lobes of FR II radio galaxies.

Because of large Faraday rotation, the intrinsic magnetic field direction within component A cannot be determined. From two closely spaced frequencies near 5 GHz, Yusef-Zadeh et al. (1998a) derive a Faraday rotation measure of 3000 rad m<sup>-2</sup>. Comparable Faraday rotation measures are seen along other lines of sight to the GC (Inoue et al. (1984); Tsuboi et al. (1985); Yusef-Zadeh & Morris (1987); Gray et al. (1995); Yusef-Zadeh, Wardle, & Parastaran 1997), and some FR II radio galaxies are embedded within a magnetized intracluster medium which could contribute to additional Faraday rotation (Carilli & Barthel (1996)).

### 3.4 Variability

Our observations, combined with those summarized in Lazio & Cordes (1998a), provide a 10–15 yr time span over which G359.87$`+`$0.18 has been observed between 0.33 and 15 GHz. On short time scales (between a few days to a month) the source shows no structural variations, and the flux density is essentially constant. The angular resolution of many of the older observations (Lazio & Cordes 1998a ) was not as high as in the present observations, so that a detailed comparison of the structure of the source at different epochs is not possible. Components A and B have been detected, at approximately the same angular separation from each other, since 1986. Flux density comparisons are also hampered by the differing resolutions at the various different epochs. Nonetheless, the flux density of the source does not appear to have varied by more than 10% at any frequency over this this time span, and flux density variations of roughly 10% may be the result of (extrinsic) refractive scintillation (Rickett, Coles, & Bourgois 1984).

### 3.5 Distance

We can place only crude limits on the distance to G359.87$`+`$0.18, but these are consistent with it being extragalactic. The H I spectra of G359.87$`+`$0.18 and B1739$``$298 are similar: Both are dominated by an absorption feature centered approximately on 0 km s<sup>-1</sup>, with a considerable width, 40 km s<sup>-1</sup>, and optical depth, $`\tau 2`$. In both sources there is a suggestion that this large width is the superposition of two velocity components, one centered on 0 km s<sup>-1</sup>, the other at $`20`$ km s<sup>-1</sup>. The 20 km s<sup>-1</sup> gas does not appear in the spectrum of Sgr A and presumably lies beyond it. The forbidden velocities near the GC make determining a distance from a rotation curve problematic, but the spectrum of G359.87$`+`$0.18 indicates that it is at least as far away as the GC and is consistent with an extragalactic distance.

We can also place a lower limit on the distance to G359.87$`+`$0.18 by requiring that its power output be consistent with that of other FR II galaxies. Extrapolating the (high-frequency) spectrum of G359.87$`+`$0.18 to 0.178 GHz, we find that its flux density would be 1.7 Jy. In order for its luminosity to exceed the break between FR I and FR II galaxies at $`2\times 10^{25}`$ W Hz<sup>-1</sup> sr<sup>-1</sup>, G359.87$`+`$0.18 must be at a distance $`D>300`$ Mpc ($`z>0.1`$ for $`H=100`$ km s<sup>-1</sup> Mpc<sup>-1</sup> and $`q=1/2`$).

By comparision with other USS distant radio galaxies, a redshift of $`z2`$ is indicated (Röttgering et al. (1994)). In a sample of high-redshift radio galaxies selected on the basis of $`z>2`$, Athreya et al. (1997) find that most of them have unresolved cores with spectra $`\alpha <0.5`$, similar to that of component B.

## 4 Scattering Toward the Galactic Center

### 4.1 Diameter and Shape of G359.87$`+`$0.18

Figure 7 shows a 8.5 GHz image superposed on a 0.33 GHz image of G359.87$`+`$0.18. In contrast to its triple morphology at higher frequencies, G359.87$`+`$0.18 consists of a single component at 0.33 GHz, approximately 20″ in diameter.

The structure of G359.87$`+`$0.18 at 0.33 GHz is due, in part, to radio-wave scattering. The alternative, that it reflects *only* the intrinsic structure of the source, seems unlikely. The high-frequency spectrum of G359.87$`+`$0.18, extrapolated to 0.33 GHz and combined with modest free-free absorption, can account for the flux density of G359.87$`+`$0.18 (§3.2). If the 0.33 GHz structure is a halo, then the spectra of the individual components must flatten considerably or turn over below 1 GHz. While some spectral flattening is seen for USS sources, typically this occurs at frequencies below 0.1 GHz (Röttgering et al. (1994)). Also, the halo would have to have a spectral index steeper than the individual components to avoid detection in our observations (§2) and those of Lazio & Cordes (1998a).

We cannot rule out the possibility that a halo contributes to the 0.33 GHz structure, however. Some FR II galaxies have low frequency halos that surround the lobes (Carilli & Barthel (1996)). A halo enclosing components A and C (separation 12″) would be largely resolved out by our observations; such a halo could have also escaped detection in the observations summarized in Lazio & Cordes (1998a), either because the previous observations were less sensitive than those reported here or because they did not have sufficient angular resolution. The uncertainty in the amount of free-free absorption along this line of sight also allows for the existence of a halo. We require an optical depth $`\tau 0.3`$ to reconcile the observed and expected flux densities (§3.2). An optical depth only slightly larger, $`\tau =0.5`$, for instance, would permit a halo with a 0.33 GHz flux density $`S_\nu 0.1`$ Jy to exist while remaining consistent with the observed flux density.

Lazio & Cordes (1998a) considered the scattering properties of G359.87$`+`$0.18 assuming that the 0.33 GHz structure represented only the contribution from component A. In fact all three components will contribute to the 0.33 GHz structure. The observed diameter of a source at a particular frequency can be modelled as the quadrature sum of the intrinsic diameter and the scattering diameter. It is assumed commonly that scattering affects the apparent diameter of only relatively compact sources. However, if the scattering diameter is comparable to that of the intrinsic diameter, then the apparent diameter of the source will reflect the contribution from scattering, *even if* the intrinsic structure of the source is not compact (Cohen & Cronyn (1974)).

In solving for the scattering diameter of G359.87$`+`$0.18, we shall obtain a range of allowed values because of our limited information about its intrinsic structure at 0.33 GHz. The observed diameter of G359.87$`+`$0.18 at 0.33 GHz is 19″. We first obtain an upper limit on the scattering diameter by assuming that component A, which dominates the flux density of the source at high frequencies, continues to dominate at 0.33 GHz. Component A has a high-frequency diameter (assumed to be intrinsic) of approximately 2″. Assuming that the intrinsic diameter is frequency independent, we find a scattering diameter $`\theta _s19\mathrm{}`$. We obtain an approximate lower limit on the scattering diameter by taking the 12″ separation between components A and C to be characteristic of the 0.33 GHz intrinsic diameter. In this case $`\theta _s14\mathrm{}`$. The equivalent range on the 1 GHz scattering diameter is 1$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$5–2″.

While large, the scattering diameter of G359.87$`+`$0.18 is not unusually so, nor is it unique toward the GC. The nearby extragalactic sources B1739$``$298 and B1741$``$312 ($`\mathrm{}=357\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}87`$, $`b=1\mathrm{°}`$) have similar lines of sight through the entire disk of the Galaxy. Their diameters indicate that they are heavily scattered, though not affected by the hyperstrong region in front of Sgr A (Lazio & Cordes 1998b ). Their scattering diameters, scaled to 0.33 GHz, are roughly 6″, only a factor of 2–3 smaller than that inferred for G359.87$`+`$0.18.

The shape of the image at 0.33 GHz is also *irregular*. We characterize the image shape as irregular as opposed to anisotropic because the image displays a “mottled” or “lumpy” appearance (Figure 7). The intrinsic structure, as inferred from the high frequency observations, contributes little to the irregular appearance. We have convolved our 1.5 GHz image (Figure 2) with a circular gaussian scattering disk, 15″ in diameter. The resulting image is comparable in size to that of our 0.33 GHz image, but is considerably smoother.

Our lack of knowledge about the low-frequency, intrinsic structure of G359.87$`+`$0.18 limits the extent to which we can explain this irregular appearance. This appearance is probably the result of both the intrinsic structure at 0.33 GHz and anisotropic scattering. Observations at frequencies between 0.33 and 1.4 GHz would be useful in separating these effects. Unfortunately, existing observations in this frequency range do not have sufficient angular resolution even to resolve the source (e.g., the 0.84 GHz MOST survey had a beam of $`90\mathrm{}\times 45\mathrm{}`$, Gray (1994)).

### 4.2 Uniform vs. Patchy Scattering Region

Using a likelihood analysis of the OH maser scattering diameters and source counts of extragalactic sources toward the GC, Lazio & Cordes (1998b) concluded that the characteristic separation between Sgr A and GC scattering region is 150 pc, that the scattering region is centered on $`(\mathrm{},b)=(0\mathrm{°},0\mathrm{°})`$, and that its extent in Galactic longitude is between $`\pm 0\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}5`$ and $`\pm 1\mathrm{°}`$. As a consequence, Sgr A and the heavily broadened OH masers are seen through a hyperstrong scattering region that covers at least a portion of the GC. The implied scattering diameter at 0.33 GHz is 12″ for a Galactic source and at least 600″ for an extragalactic source. In this section we consider three possibilities that would allow G359.87$`+`$0.18 to be both extragalactic and not heavily scattered.

The first possibility is that the hyperstrong scattering region is a relatively homogeneous region of sufficiently limited angular extent that it does not cover G359.87$`+`$0.18. While the scattering region’s extent in Galactic latitude is poorly constrained (Lazio & Cordes 1998b ), we now show that if the scattering region is homogeneous, it almost certainly extends to at least the Galactic latitude of G359.87$`+`$0.18. The maser OH 359.762$`+`$0.120 is 7$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$4 south of G359.87$`+`$0.18 and has an anisotropic scattering disk of $`1\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}2\times 0\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}36`$ at 1.6 GHz (Frail et al. (1994)). The nonthermal thread G0.08$`+`$0.15 is 13′ northeast of G359.87$`+`$0.18, and its width may be affected by scatter broadening (Anantharamaiah et al. (1991)). The nonthermal thread G359.79$`+`$0.17 is 4$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$7 south of G359.87$`+`$0.18 (Figure 1), and as we now show, its width is also likely to be affected by scatter broadening. From a 1.4 GHz image provided by C. C. Lang (1998, private communication), we have determined that the width of the thread varies from 12″ to 19″; an example is shown in Figure 8. At this frequency the expected scattering diameter for a Galactic source affected by the hyperstrong scattering region is 0$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$6, so we consider these widths to be the intrinsic widths of the thread. As noted above, the expected scattering diameter for a Galactic source at 0.33 GHz is 12″. If we assume that the intrinsic width is frequency independent and add the intrinsic width and scattering diameter in quadrature, the expected width of the thread should vary between 17″ and 22″. In fact, the observed width of the thread at 0.33 GHz varies between 23″ and 29″.

We regard the agreement between the expected and observed widths of the thread as evidence that scattering affects the thread G359.79$`+`$0.17. The modest discrepancies between the expected and observed width can be resolved by a combination of a frequency-dependent intrinsic width and a larger separation between the thread and scattering region than assumed. A frequency-dependent intrinsic width would arise if the synchrotron emitting electrons responsible for the thread have a greater transverse extent at low energies (Anantharamaiah et al. (1991)). The expected scattering diameter depends upon the distance between the source and the scattering region. We have taken the scattering diameter to be that of Sgr A, which is appropriate if the thread G359.79$`+`$0.17 is also 150 pc behind the scattering region (Lazio & Cordes 1998b ). If the thread is more distant, its expected scattering diameter is

$$\theta _s\theta _{\mathrm{Sgr}\mathrm{A}^{}}\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }}{\mathrm{\Delta }_{\mathrm{Sgr}\mathrm{A}^{}}},$$
(1)   
where $`\theta _{\mathrm{Sgr}\mathrm{A}^{}}`$ is the scattering diameter of Sgr A, $`\mathrm{\Delta }_{\mathrm{Sgr}\mathrm{A}^{}}`$ is the Sgr A-scattering region separation, and $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ is the thread-scattering region separation. If the thread G359.79$`+`$0.17 is 100 pc more distant than Sgr A, scattering alone could explain the discrepancy between the observed and expected widths of the thread.

Therefore, if the scattering region is homogeneous and covers the GC uniformly, it extends to a Galactic latitude of at least 0$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$18. Since G359.87$`+`$0.18 does not display the expected enhanced broadening, we conclude that the scattering region is unlikely to be homogeneous.

The second possibility is that the scattering region is patchy or clumpy and that there are “holes” in it. If so, the size of the clumps would have to be smaller than the 4$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$7 separation between G359.87$`+`$0.18 and the thread G359.79$`+`$0.17, equivalent to 12 pc at the GC.

A scattering region composed of clumps would also explain the contrasts between the diameters of OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 and OH 0.319$``$0.040 and of Sgr A OH1720:B and Sgr A OH1720:C. The (1.6 GHz) scattering diameter of OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 is only 0$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$1 (van Langevelde & Diamond (1991)), whereas OH 0.319$``$0.040 has a scattering diameter of 1$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$2 (Frail et al. (1994)), even though it is only 9′ away and (angularly) more distant from Sgr A. The case of OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 is not as clear-cut as that of G359.87$`+`$0.18, however, because OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 could be just behind or in front of the scattering region. While we cannot establish definitely that OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 is close to the GC, there are two indications that this is likely. First, in order for it to be unaffected by the scattering region, OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 would have to be at least 100 pc closer to the Sun than Sgr A (i.e., no more than 50 pc behind the scattering region). Its projected distance from Sgr A is 30 pc. OH/IR stars in the GC have a volume density that varies as $`r^2`$ and a distribution that is centered on Sgr A (Lindqvist, Habing, & Winnberg 1992b). Therefore, it is ten times more likely for an OH/IR star to be 30 pc distant from Sgr A than it is to be 100 pc distant. Second, OH/IR stars show a $`\mathrm{}`$-$`v`$ diagram indicative of circular rotation about the center (Lindqvist et al. 1992b ). The radial velocity of OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 ($`+159`$ km s<sup>-1</sup>, Lindqvist et al. 1992a ) is not only consistent with that expected from circular rotation, but is actually larger than the value predicted by Lindqvist et al.’s (1992b) model. A radial velocity larger than the model value is exactly what is expected if most of the the source’s velocity is projected along the line of sight, i.e., if OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 is at its projected distance from Sgr A.

Sgr A OH1720:B is a collection of 1720 MHz OH maser features in Sgr A West having anisotropic angular diameters with major axes of approximately 0$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$85. Sgr A OH1720:C is an unresolved 1720 MHz OH maser located 15′ ($`35`$ pc) away and associated with Sgr A East (Yusef-Zadeh et al. 1998b ). In this case, Sgr A West is known to lie in front of Sgr A East (Pedlar et al. (1989)). Thus, if the scattering region covered the GC uniformly, Sgr A OH1720:C would be expected to show a large scattering disk.

A third possibility for the scattering of G359.87$`+`$0.18 is that the scattering region is far from Sgr A ($`>1`$ kpc). We do not consider this option to be viable. In their likelihood analysis of the scattering region toward the GC, Lazio & Cordes (1998b) found that, even if they assumed G359.87$`+`$0.18 to be extragalactic, there was still a deficit of sources near Sgr A, requiring the scattering region to be closer than 500 pc to the GC. (Their analysis also implicitly assumed a relatively homogeneous scattering region.) Moreover, their likelihood analysis of the OH maser scattering diameters—which was independent of any extragalactic sources—indicated that the Sgr A-scattering region separation is between 50 and 300 pc. Nonetheless, the scattering diameter of G359.87$`+`$0.18 is formidable, 1$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$5–2″ at 1 GHz. This diameter is comparable to that seen for other heavily scattered sources in the Galaxy (e.g., 1849$`+`$005, Fey, Spangler, & Cordes 1991; NGC6634B, Moran et al. (1990)). Since the mean free path for intersecting a comparable region of scattering is 8 kpc (Cordes et al. (1991)), there is a good chance there could be additional scattering contributed by a region on the far side of the Galaxy.

### 4.3 Implications for the Scattering Region

We therefore conclude that the scattering region is inhomogeneous or clumpy on scales of 10–20 pc. Prevailing models for the scattering region explain the scattering as arising in the ionized outer layers of molecular clouds, which are produced either from photoionization by the hot stars in the GC (Yusef-Zadeh et al. (1994)) or as an evaporative interface between the molecular clouds and the ambient X-ray gas (Lazio & Cordes 1998b ). Inhomogeneities in the scattering region on scales of 10–20 pc are consistent with a molecular cloud origin: Molecular clouds in the GC also have scale sizes of 10–20 pc (Güsten (1989)).

We have examined CO ($`J=10`$, Bally et al. (1987); $`J=21`$, Oka et al. (1998)) $`\mathrm{}`$-$`v`$ diagrams of the GC in an effort to identify a “gap” in the molecular cloud distribution through which G359.87$`+`$0.18 could shine. We focus on CO because its emission traces densities $`n500`$ cm<sup>-3</sup>. Since typical molecular cloud central densities in the GC are $`n10^4`$ cm<sup>-3</sup>, CO will trace the outer layers of molecular clouds, the regions that can be ionized easily. In addition, high resolution, sensitive surveys exist for these transitions, with resolutions comparable to that which we infer for the separation between scattering clumps. The $`J=10`$ observations had a 100″ beam ($`=4`$ pc at the distance of the GC); the $`J=21`$ observations had a 9′ beam ($`=20`$ pc).

The distribution of molecular clouds in the GC displays a well-known asymmetry with a concentration of molecular material toward $`\mathrm{}>0\mathrm{°}`$. This asymmetry means that a hole in the scattering region for $`\mathrm{}<0\mathrm{°}`$ is quite plausible. Indeed, perhaps more difficult to explain is the enhanced angular broadening toward the thread G359.79$`+`$0.17 and OH 359.762$`+`$0.120, since there do not appear to be obvious GC molecular clouds in these directions. The molecular cloud(s) (and the associated ionized outer layers) responsible for the enhanced broadening toward the thread G359.79$`+`$0.17 and OH 359.762$`+`$0.120 may have velocities near 0 km s<sup>-1</sup>. Most GC molecular clouds can be identified because they have large velocities. Some GC molecular clouds do have velocities near 0 km s<sup>-1</sup>, however, and these clouds can be confused with gas along the line of sight to the GC.

We distinguish between the *outer scale* in the scattering region and the *separation* between scattering clumps. The outer scale, $`l_0`$, is simply the largest scale on which the density fluctuations responsible for radio-wave scattering occur. If the density fluctuations arise from a turbulent process, the outer scale reflects the largest scale on which turbulent energy is injected. If the scattering arises in the ionized, outer layers of molecular clouds (Yusef-Zadeh et al. (1994); Lazio & Cordes 1998b ), the outer scale presumably is comparable the thickness of these ionized layers. In both models, the outer scale is small, $`l_010^4`$ pc, but it is not necessarily related to the separation between individual clouds.

The small outer scale (and high temperature Lazio & Cordes 1998b ) of the scattering region (or cloudlets) means that it contributes little to the free-free emission and absorption toward the GC. Rather the bulk of the free-free emission and absorption would be congributed by the extended, low-density H II region (Mezger & Pauls (1979); Anish Roshi & Anantharamaiah (1997)). This extended, low-density H II region may be (partially) responsible for the scattering disks of G359.87$`+`$0.18, B1739$``$298, and B1741$``$312. The hyperstrong scattering seen toward Sgr A and various OH masers is due to this clumpy, GC scattering region.

## 5 Conclusions

We have presented new observations of the source G359.87$`+`$0.18 at frequencies between 0.33 and 15 GHz and an H I absorption spectrum. We conclude that this source is a Fanaroff-Riley II radio galaxy, based on the following characteristics:

The source is a collinear triple source, with the northeast component being edge brightened, the central component having a jet-like feature pointing toward the NE component, and the southwest component being extended toward the central component.

The edge-brightened component shows a fractional polarization of approximately 10%.

Steep spectrum, with spectral index $`\alpha <1`$, characteristic of high-redshift galaxies.

No significant structural or flux density variations have been observed over short (few weeks to a month) or long (10–15 yr) time scales.

Steep spectrum radio galaxies are typically at $`z2`$. We have not been able to determine a distance to the source, but the H I absorption spectrum we have presented suggests a lower limit of 25 kpc, and the classification as an FR II radio galaxy suggests a lower limit to the redshift of 0.1.

Though G359.87$`+`$0.18 is only 15′ from Sgr A, it is not affected by the hyperstrong scattering region that is responsible for the large diameter of Sgr A. If it were, G359.87$`+`$0.18 would have a diameter in excess of 600″ at 0.33 GHz in contrast to the observed diameter of 20″. We attribute the lack of hyperstrong scattering toward G359.87$`+`$0.18 to an inhomogeneous scattering region. An inhomogeneous scattering region would also explain the small diameter of the masers OH 0.190$`+`$0.036 and Sgr A OH1720:C, both of which appear to be seen through the region of enhanced scattering but have diameters less than 0$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}`$1 at 1.6 and 1.7 GHz, respectively. The scattering region would have to be inhomogeneous on 5–10′ scales (10–20 pc at the Galactic center) to explain the small diameters of these two sources. This scale is comparable to the scale of molecular clouds in the GC. Prevailing models explain the hyperstrong scattering as due to ionized regions on the surfaces of molecular clouds. We regard the close correspondence between the size of molecular clouds and the inhomogeneities in the scattering region as evidence for a connection between the two.

We thank F. Yusef-Zadeh for stimulating discussions on the nature of G359.87$`+`$0.18, C. Lang for providing the 1.4 GHz observations of the thread 359.79$`+`$0.17, C. Carilli for helpful discussions on the properties of FR II radio galaxies, and L. Sjouwerman and A. Winnberg for comments on the properties of OH masers toward the GC. TJWL is supported by a National Research Council-Naval Research Laboratory Research Associateship. Basic research in astronomy at the NRL is supported by the Office of Naval Research. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. The National Astronomy & Ionosphere Center is operated by Cornell University under contract with the NSF. This research made use of the SIMBAD database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France.