Candidate tidal disruption events from the XMM-Newton Slew Survey

Details Candidate tidal disruption events from the XMM-Newton Slew Survey Candidate tidal disruption events from the XMM-Newton Slew Survey

2006-12-13

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0612340v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages, 4 figures, A&A accepted

Scientific paper

10.1051/0004-6361:20066072

In recent years, giant amplitude X-ray flares have been observed from a handful of non-active galaxies. The most plausible scenario of these unusual phenomena is tidal disruption of a star by a quiescent supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy. Comparing the XMM-Newton Slew Survey Source Catalogue with the ROSAT PSPC All-Sky Survey five galaxies have been detected a factor of up to 88 brighter in XMM-Newton with respect to ROSAT PSPC upper limits and presenting a soft X-ray colour. X-ray luminosities of these sources derived from slew observations have been found in the range 10^41-10^44 erg s^-1, fully consistent with the tidal disruption model. This model predicts that during the peak of the outburst, flares reach X-ray luminosities up to 10^45 erg s^-1, which is close to the Eddington luminosity of the black hole, and afterwards a decay of the flux on a time scale of months to years is expected. Multi-wavelength follow-up observations have been performed on these highly variable objects in order to disentangle their nature and to investigate their dynamical evolution. Here we present sources coming from the XMM-Newton Slew Survey that could fit in the paradigm of tidal disruption events. X-ray and optical observations revealed that two of these objects are in full agreement with that scenario and three other sources that, showing signs of optical activity, need further investigation within the transient galactic nuclei phenomena.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Candidate tidal disruption events from the XMM-Newton Slew Survey does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Candidate tidal disruption events from the XMM-Newton Slew Survey, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Candidate tidal disruption events from the XMM-Newton Slew Survey will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-584852