GC-IRS13E - A puzzling association of three early-type stars
  We present a detailed analysis of high resolution near-infrared imaging and
spectroscopy of the potential star cluster IRS13E very close to the massive
black hole in the Galactic Center. We detect 19 objects in IRS13E from Ks-band
images, 15 of which are also detected reliably in H-band. We derive consistent
proper motions for these objects from the two bands. Most objects share a
similar westward proper motion. We characterize the objects using spectroscopy
(1.45 to 2.45 micrometer) and (narrow-band) imaging from H- (1.66 mircrometer)
to L'-band (3.80 micrometer). Nine of the objects detected in both Ks- and
H-band are very red, and we find that they are all consistent with being warm
dust clumps. The dust emission may be caused by the colliding winds of the two
Wolf-Rayet stars in the cluster. Three of the six detected stars do not share
the motion or spectral properties of the three bright stars. This leaves only
the three bright, early-type stars as potential cluster members. It is unlikely
that these stars are a chance configuration. Assuming the presence of an IMBH,
a mass of about 14000 solar masses follows from the velocities and positions of
these three stars. However, our acceleration limits make such an IMBH nearly as
unlikely as a chance occurrence of such a star association. Furthermore, there
is no variable X-ray source in IRS13E despite the high density of dust and gas.
Therefore, we conclude that is unlikely that IRS13E hosts a black hole massive
enough to bind the three stars.
