SWAG: The Maps

Abstract

Abstract We present maps of the “Survey of Water and Ammonia toward the Galactic center” (SWAG). SWAG was observed over three years (∼550 h) with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and covers the entire Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) at about 26” or ∼1 pc resolution. The observed 21.2–25.6 GHz range contains tens of spectral lines and 4 GHz of continuum. Here, we present some final maps. These include multiple NH3 lines, radio recombination lines, shock tracers like HNCO and methanol (CH3OH), high resolution 22 GHz water masers, and a continuum map. The maps are the foundation for ongoing comprehensive temperature mapping of the CMZ, including the identification of heating mechanisms, the characterization of water maser sources as young stellar objects or AGB stars, as well as chemistry, dynamics, and star formation studies of the ISM in this unique environment.