We have discovered an unprecedentedly long (>14 yrs) X-ray tidal disruptionevent (TDE) candidate, with several interesting signatures of super-Eddingtonaccretion\: quasi-soft X-ray spectra, Eddington-limited luminosity, and latertransition to the thermal state with much softer spectra. One importantprediction of our identification of the source as a super-Eddington accretingTDE is the significant decrease of the source luminosity and the softening ofthe X-ray spectra in the new few years. Therefore, we request one moreXMM-Newton observation of this event in AO20, two years after the lastmonitoring when it is in a phase of faster decay. Continuing monitoring iscritical for the modeling of the event and confirmation of its nature as the most spectacular TDE known.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2022-01-20T03:31:35Z/2022-02-06T16:56:50Z
Version
19.17_20220121_1250
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, 2023, 'XMM-Newton Follow-up of a Decade-long super-Eddington Tidal Disruption Event', 19.17_20220121_1250, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-wwq36ag
