We have discovered an unprecedentedly long ( > 10 yrs) X-ray tidal disruptionevent candidate. It showed several interesting signatures of super-Eddingtonaccretion\: quasisoft X-ray spectra, Eddington-limited luminosity, and latertransition to the thermal state of much softer spectra. Therefore this eventprovides a unique opportunity for study of super-Eddington accretion ontosupermassive black holes. The source now apprears to be in the thermal state. werequest XMM-Newton to have one more observation in AO18 on this target, twoyears after the last monitoring and when the event is turning to a phase offaster decay. Continued monitoring is critical for the modeling of the event andconfirmation of its nature as the most spectacular tidal disruption event known.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2020-02-21T03:13:01Z/2020-02-21T12:14:41Z
Version
18.02_20200221_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, 2021, 'XMM-Newton Follow-up of a Decade-long super-Eddington Accreting Tidal Disruption', 18.02_20200221_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-sowyeaw
