The Minispiral in the Galactic Center revisited

We present the results of a re-examination of a [Ne II] line emission data cube (lambda 12.8 mu m) and discuss the kinematic structure of the inner si milar to 3 X 4 pc of the Galaxy. The quality of [Ne II] as a tracer of ioni zed gas is examined by comparing it to radio data. A three-dimensional repr esentation of the data cube allows us to disentangle features which are pro jected onto the same location on the sky. A model of gas streams in differe nt planes is fitted to the data. We find that most of the material is locat ed in a main plane which itself is defined by the inner edge of the Circum- Nuclear Disk in the Galactic Center. Finally, we present a possible three-d imensional model of the gas streams. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.