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A very luminous jet from the disruption of a star by a massive black hole.
- Source :
-
Nature [Nature] 2022 Dec; Vol. 612 (7940), pp. 430-434. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Nov 30. - Publication Year :
- 2022
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Abstract
- Tidal disruption events (TDEs) are bursts of electromagnetic energy that are released when supermassive black holes at the centres of galaxies violently disrupt a star that passes too close <superscript>1</superscript> . TDEs provide a window through which to study accretion onto supermassive black holes; in some rare cases, this accretion leads to launching of a relativistic jet <superscript>2-9</superscript> , but the necessary conditions are not fully understood. The best-studied jetted TDE so far is Swift J1644+57, which was discovered in γ-rays, but was too obscured by dust to be seen at optical wavelengths. Here we report the optical detection of AT2022cmc, a rapidly fading source at cosmological distance (redshift z = 1.19325) the unique light curve of which transitioned into a luminous plateau within days. Observations of a bright counterpart at other wavelengths, including X-ray, submillimetre and radio, supports the interpretation of AT2022cmc as a jetted TDE containing a synchrotron 'afterglow', probably launched by a supermassive black hole with spin greater than approximately 0.3. Using four years of Zwicky Transient Facility <superscript>10</superscript> survey data, we calculate a rate of [Formula: see text] per gigapascals cubed per year for on-axis jetted TDEs on the basis of the luminous, fast-fading red component, thus providing a measurement complementary to the rates derived from X-ray and radio observations <superscript>11</superscript> . Correcting for the beaming angle effects, this rate confirms that approximately 1 per cent of TDEs have relativistic jets. Optical surveys can use AT2022cmc as a prototype to unveil a population of jetted TDEs.<br /> (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1476-4687
- Volume :
- 612
- Issue :
- 7940
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36450988
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05465-8