A 3 pc SCALE JET-DRIVEN OUTFLOW FROM SGR A

The compact radio source Sgr A* is coincident with a 4 x 10 super(6) M sub([middot in circle]) black hole at the dynamical center of the Galaxy and is surrounded by dense orbiting ionized and molecular gas. We present high-resolution radio continuum images of the central 3' and report a faint continuous linear structure centered on Sgr A* with a P.A. ~ 60[degrees]. The extension of this feature appears to be terminated symmetrically by two linearly polarized structures at 8.4 GHz, ~75" from Sgr A*. A number of weak blobs of radio emission with X-ray counterparts are detected along the axis of the linear structure. The linear structure is best characterized by a mildly relativistic jet from Sgr A* with an outflow rate 10 super(-6) M sub([middot in circle]) yr super(-1). The near and far sides of the jet are interacting with orbiting ionized and molecular gas over the last 1-3 hundred years and are responsible for a 2" hole, the "minicavity," characterized by disturbed kinematics, enhanced Fe II/III line emission, and diffuse X-ray gas. The estimated kinetic luminosity of the outflow is ~1.2 x 10 super(41) erg s super(-1), so the interaction with the bar may be responsible for the Galactic center X-ray flash inferred to be responsible for much of the fluorescent Fe K alpha line emission from the inner 100 pc of the Galaxy.