We present new near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the outer edges of the young stellar cluster around the supermassive black hole at the Galactic center .
The observations show a break in the surface-density profile of young stars at \sim 13 \arcsec ( 0.52 pc ) .
These observations spectroscopically confirm previous suggestions of a break based on photometry .
Using Gemini North ’ s Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrometer ( NIFS ) we are able to detect and separate early- and late-type stars with a 75 \% completeness at \emph { K } _ { s } = 15.5 .
We sample a region with radii between 7 \arcsec to 23 \arcsec ( 0.28 pc to 0.92 pc ) from Sgr A* , and present new spectral classifications of 144 stars brighter than \emph { K } _ { s } = 15.5 , where 140 stars are late-type ( > 1 Gyr ) and only four stars are early-type ( young , 4-6 Myr ) .
A broken power-law fit of the early-type surface-density matches well with our data and previously published values .
The projected surface-density of late-type stars is also measured and found to be consistent with previous results .
We find that the observed early-type surface-density profile is inconsistent with the theory of the young stars originating from a tightly bound infalling cluster , as no significant trail of young stars is found at radii above 13 \arcsec .
We also note that either a simple disk instability criterion or a cloud-cloud collision could explain the location of the outer edge , though we lack information to make conclusive remarks on either alternative .
If this break in surface-density represents an edge to the young stellar cluster it would set an important scale for the most recent episode of star formation at the Galactic center .