We have discovered a decade-long X-ray tidal disruption candidate, which recentobservations suggest to be still in the super-Eddington accretion phase but withsporadic dramatic spectral softening. We request three XMM-Newton monitorings inAO16 on this target, which is unique for study of the super-Eddington accretiononto supermassive black holes. The goals are to confirm its still being in thesuper-Eddington accretion phase and to measure the spectral softening occurrencerate, allowing us to determine whether the spectral softening is due totransient high-speed warm absorbers or state transition. We also request an HSTorbit to help confirm the nuclear origin of the event and study its environment.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2017-07-21T00:15:49Z/2018-01-20T21:46:56Z
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, Dr Dacheng Lin, 2019, 'Understanding the Super-Eddington phase in a Decade-long Tidal Disruption Event', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-mtujea8
