A 3 pc SCALE JET-DRIVEN OUTFLOW FROM SGRA

The compact radio source Sgr A* is coincident with a 4 x 10(6) M-circle dot 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. similar to 60 degrees. The extension of this feature appears to be terminated symmetrically by two linearly polarized structures at 8.4 GHz, similar to 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(-6) M-circle dot yr(-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 similar to 1.2 x 10(41) erg s(-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.