Context. There are a number of faint compact infrared excess sources in the central stellar cluster of the Milky Way. Their nature and origin is unclear. In addition to several isolated objects of this kind there is a small but dense cluster of comoving sources (IRS13N) located ∼3 west of SgrA* just 0.5 north of the bright IRS13E cluster of Wolf-Rayet and O-type stars. Based on the analysis of their color and brightness, there are two main possibilities: (1) they may be dust-embedded stars older than a few Myr; or (2) very young, dusty stars with ages younger than 1 Myr. Aims. We present a first K s -band identification and proper motions of the IRS13N members, the high-velocity dusty S-cluster object (DSO, also referred to as G2), and other infrared excess sources in the central field. Goal is to constrain the nature of these source. Methods. The L -(3.8 μm) K s -(2.2 μm) and H-band (1.65 μm) observations were carried out using the NACO adaptive optics system at the ESO VLT. Proper motions were obtained by linear fitting of the stellar positions extracted by StarFinder as a function of time, weighted by positional uncertainties, and by Gaussian fitting from high-pass filtered and deconvolved images. We also present results of near-infrared (NIR) H-and K s -band ESO-SINFONI integral field spectroscopy of the Galactic center cluster ISR13N. Results. We show that within the uncertainties, the positions and proper motions of the IRS13N sources in K s -and L -band are identical. The HK−sL colors then indicate that the bright L -band IRS13N sources are indeed dust-enshrouded stars rather than core-less dust clouds. The proper motions also show that the IRS13N sources are not strongly gravitationally bound to each other. Combined with their NIR colors, this implies that they have been formed recently. For the DSO we obtain proper motions and a K s -L -color. Conclusions. Most of the compact L -band excess emission sources have a compact H-or K s -band counterpart and therefore are likely stars with dust shells or disks. Our new results and orbital analysis from our previous work favor the hypothesis that the infrared excess IRS13N members and other dusty sources close to SgrA* are young dusty stars and that star formation at the Galactic center (GC) is a continuously ongoing process. For the DSO the color information indicates that it may be a dust cloud or a dust-embedded star.

Context. The compact radio and near-infrared (NIR) source Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) associated with the supermassive black hole in the Galactic center was observed at 7 mm in the context of a NIR triggered global Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) campaign.Aims. Sgr A* shows variable flux densities ranging from radio through X-rays. These variations sometimes appear in spontaneous outbursts that are referred to as flares. Multi-frequency observations of Sgr A* provide access to easily observable parameters that can test the currently accepted models that try to explain these intensity outbursts. Methods. On May 16-18, 2012 Sgr A* has been observed with the VLBA at 7 mm (43 GHz) for 6 h each day during a global multiwavelength campaign. These observations were triggered by a NIR flare observed at the Very Large Telescope (VLT). Accurate flux densities and source morphologies were acquired. Results. The total 7 mm flux of Sgr A* shows only minor variations during its quiescent states on a daily basis of 0.06 Jy. An observed NIR flare on May 17 was followed ∼4.5 h later by an increase in flux density of 0.22 Jy at 43 GHz. This agrees well with the expected time delay of events that are casually connected by adiabatic expansion. Shortly before the peak of the radio flare, Sgr A* developed a secondary radio off-core feature at 1.5 mas toward the southeast. Even though the closure phases are too noisy to place actual constraints on this feature, a component at this scale together with a time delay of 4.5 ± 0.5 h between the NIR and radio flare provide evidence for an adiabatically expanding jet feature.

Context. IRS 8 offers the possibility to study unique bow shock properties and polarization features in the dusty environment at the Galactic center. Aims. We aim to gain insight into the properties of the surrounding material of the bow shock source IRS 8, based on the measured polarization distribution along its extended feature. Bow shock models enable a relative positioning of its central star with respect to the northern arm and Sagittarius A*. Methods. The analysis is based on polarimetric K S -band and nonpolarimetric L -and N-band data obtained with the adaptive-optics assisted instrument NAOS/CONICA (K S -and L -band) and the mid-infrared imager/spectrograph VISIR (N-band) at the ESO Very Large Telescope. A polarization map covering an area of ∼31.9 × 8.2 at the position of IRS 8 was obtained using high-precision photometric methods, together with a polarimetric calibration specified for NACO. In addition, simulated L -band bow shock models are presented, which allow a positioning of IRS 8 with respect to the interaction medium of the northern arm.Results. This work presents interstellar dust properties for the northern arm in the vicinity of a bow shock, as well as a threedimensional positioning of IRS 8 with respect to the northern arm and Sagittarius A*. The presented polarization maps for the Galactic center source IRS 8 show a total intrinsic polarization degree of 3.3% at 13 • east of north, measured on nondeconvolved images, and 4.3% at 19 • on Lucy-Richardson deconvolved images. Analysis of the polarization distribution along the bow shock reveals a polarization pattern as it would be produced by absorption on aligned grains and shows a decreasing polarization degree towards the apex of the bow shock. Current literature provides a mean electron density for IRS 8. The comparison of this value with properties of simulated polarization maps in a circumstellar environment, which are capable of multiple scattering, leads to the conclusion that multiple scattering events reduce the degree of polarization at the apex of the bow shock. Additionally, bow shock models that allow relative positioning of IRS 8 with respect to the northern arm and Sagittarius A* are presented. The results indicate that its central star is located closer towards the observer than the northern arm.

A fast moving infrared excess source (G2) which is widely interpreted as a core-less gas and dust cloud approaches Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) on a presumably elliptical orbit. VLT Ks -band and Keck K -band data result in clear continuum identifications and proper motions of this ∼19 m Dusty S-cluster Object (DSO). In 2002-2007 it is confused with the star S63, but free of confusion again since 2007. Its near-infrared (NIR) colors and a comparison to other sources in the field speak in favor of the DSO being an IR excess star with photospheric continuum emission at 2 microns than a core-less gas and dust cloud. We also find very compact L -band emission (<0.1 ) contrasted by the reported extended (0.03 up to ∼0.2 for the tail) Brγ emission. The presence of a star will change the expected accretion phenomena, since a stellar Roche lobe may retain a fraction of the material during and after the peri-bothron passage.

The super-massive 4 million solar mass black hole (SMBH) SgrA* shows variable emission from the millimeter to the X-ray domain. A detailed analysis of the infrared light curves allows us to address the accretion phenomenon in a statistical way. The analysis shows that the near-infrared flux density excursions are dominated by a single state power law, with the low states of SgrA* limited by confusion through the unresolved stellar background. We show that for 8-10m class telescopes blending effects along the line of sight will result in artificial compact star-like objects of 0.5-1 mJy that last for about 3-4 years. We discuss how the imaging capabilities of GRAVITY at the VLTI, LINC-NIRVANA at the LBT and METIS at the E-ELT will contribute to the investigation of the low variability states of SgrA*.