Tidal disruption events (TDEs), where a star is disrupted while passing close toa black hole, enable a view of accretion onto supermassive objects fromquiescence to super-Eddington rates, on a timescale of a few years. Here wepropose to characterise the spectral and temporal properties two TDEs found inAO15. As part of a comprehensive multiwavelength campaign we will use XMM-Newtonand HST to map either side of the expected hot black-body peak; search forevidence of non-thermal components; track the cooling of the event and study thelong and short timescale variability of the sources. In doing so we will createexquisite, panchromatic pictures of these extreme events.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2017-07-21T14:58:40Z/2017-08-15T07:14:37Z
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, Prof Andrew Levan, 2018, 'XMM and HST Target of Opportunity Observations of Tidal Disruption Events', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-klh0dg8
