Kinetic Temperatures of Molecular Gas: The Galactic center Region

The Galactic Center is the closest region in which we can study star formation under extreme physical conditions like those in high-redshift galaxies. We have mapped the inner 300 pc of the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) in temperature sensitive molecular tracers to determine what is driving the heating and to find out in what way these tracers are themselves dependent on environmental conditions.Maps of kinetic temperature are presented and compared with those of the dust. Potential heating mechanisms,like turbulent heating, Photon Dominated Regions (PDRs), regions (CRDRs) are introduced and a most likely scenario is identified. As an addendum, recently found new maser lines are also  addressed.