C^18^O/C^17^O ratios in the Galactic center

Through our mapping observations, abundance ratios are also obtained for Sgr A (~0 and ~50km/s component) and Sgr B2 (~60km/s), which are consistent with the results from previous single-point observations. Our frequency-corrected abundance ratios of the GC clouds range from 2.58+/-0.07 (Sgr D, V~80km/s, DLH) to 3.54+/-0.12 (Sgr A, ~50km/s). In addition, strong narrow components (line width less than 5km/s) from the foreground clouds are detected toward Sgr D (-18km/s), the 1.3{deg} complex (-18km/s), and M+5.3-0.3 (22km/s), with a larger abundance ratio around 4.0.

Our results show a clear trend of lower C^18^O/C^17^O abundance ratios toward the GC region relative to molecular clouds in the Galactic disk. Furthermore, even inside the GC region, ratios appear not to be uniform. The low GC values are consistent with an inside-out formation scenario for our Galaxy.