The near real-time comparison of XMM-Newton slew data with the ROSAT all-skysurvey gives an excellent opportunity to find black holes in the centres ofgalaxies, which are currently being fueled by the tidal disruption of a star. InJune 2010, as part of this program, we detected a flare from the opticallyquiescent galaxy SDSS J120136.02+300305.5 and monitored its evolution. Thesource flux decays at the rate predicted for returning tidal debris but withsurprisingly strong variations. A factor 50 flux reduction seen after 30 days,could be due to absorption by a super-Eddington outflow or may be caused by jetinstabilities. We propose to extend this program to find and monitor morecandidates and ultimately produce a small sample which can address the physics of tidal disruption events.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2012-12-15T13:09:20Z/2013-04-20T19:52:46Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Mr Richard Saxton, 2014, 'A time-resolved study of the injection of mass onto a dormant Supermassive Black', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-tsnpjt1
