We request a 50-ks XMM-Newton observation of an X-ray-luminous tidal disruptionevent during Cycle 20 in order to track its long-term X-ray flux behaviour, andto clarify lingering questions regarding its early flux evolution. The event,which occurred in the galaxy SDSS J143359.16+400636.0 at z=0.099, first detectedin February 2020, reached a peak luminosity of 10^44 erg s 1 in the 0.3-10 keVX-ray band, which was around 20 times more than the peak optical/UV luminosity.Optical, UV, and X-ray lightcurves showed a decline in flux from the sourceconsistent with t^ 5/3. The start time of the X-ray emission is unclear, whichhas implications for the X-ray emission mechanism, but an observation at longtime scales with XMM with clarify this.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2021-07-28T06:09:06Z/2021-07-28T21:20:46Z
Version
19.16_20210326_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 Murray Brightman, 2022, 'Tracking the long-term flux evolution of an X-ray luminous tidal disruption even', 19.16_20210326_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-ec5y3rh
