We have observed the diffuse X-ray emission from the Galactic center (GC)
using the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS) on Suzaku. The high-energy
resolution and the low-background orbit provide excellent spectra of the GC
diffuse X-rays (GCDX). The XIS found many emission lines in the GCDX near the
energy of K-shell transitions of iron and nickel. The most pronounced features
are FeI K alpha at 6.4 keV and K-shell absorption edge at 7.1 keV, which are
from neutral and/or low ionization states of iron, and the K-shell lines at 6.7
keV and 6.9 keV from He-like (FeXXV K alpha) and hydrogenic (FeXXVI Ly alpha)
ions of iron. In addition, K alpha lines from neutral or low ionization nickel
(NiI K alpha) and He-like nickel (NiXXVII K alpha), and FeI K beta, FeXXV K
beta, FeXXVI Ly beta, FeXXV K gamma and FeXXVI Ly gamma are detected for the
first time. The line center energies and widths of FeXXV K alpha and FeXXVI Ly
alpha favor a collisional excitation (CE) plasma for the origin of the GCDX.
The electron temperature determined from the line flux ratio of FeXXV K alpha /
FeXXV K beta is similar to the ionization temperature determined from that of
FeXXV K alpha /FeXXVI Ly alpha. Thus it would appear that the GCDX plasma is
close to ionization equilibrium. The 6.7 keV flux and temperature distribution
to the galactic longitude is smooth and monotonic,in contrast to the integrated
point source flux distribution. These facts support the hypothesis that the
GCDX is truly diffuse emission rather than the integration of the outputs of a
large number of unresolved point sources. In addition, our results demonstrate
that the chemical composition of Fe in the interstellar gas near the GC is
constrained to be about 3.5 times solar.Comment: 11 pages, 19 figures. Accepted for publication in PASJ Suzaku Special
Issue (vol. 59 sp. 1
