The extreme coronal line emitter AT 2022fpx: Varying optical polarization properties and late-time X-ray flare

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Main Authors: Koljonen, Karri I. I., Liodakis, Ioannis, Lindfors, Elina, Nilsson, Kari, Reynolds, Thomas M., Charalampopoulos, Panos, Kouroumpatzakis, Konstantinos, McCall, Callum, Jermak, Helen E., Steele, Iain A., Carbajo-Hijarrubia, Juan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Koljonen, Karri I. I.
Liodakis, Ioannis
Lindfors, Elina
Nilsson, Kari
Reynolds, Thomas M.
Charalampopoulos, Panos
Kouroumpatzakis, Konstantinos
McCall, Callum
Jermak, Helen E.
Steele, Iain A.
Carbajo-Hijarrubia, Juan
author_facet Koljonen, Karri I. I.
Liodakis, Ioannis
Lindfors, Elina
Nilsson, Kari
Reynolds, Thomas M.
Charalampopoulos, Panos
Kouroumpatzakis, Konstantinos
McCall, Callum
Jermak, Helen E.
Steele, Iain A.
Carbajo-Hijarrubia, Juan
contents Supermassive black holes disrupt passing stars, producing outbursts called tidal disruption events (TDEs). TDEs have recently gained attention due to their unique dynamics and emission processes, which are still not fully understood. Especially, the so-called optical TDEs, are of interest as they often exhibit delayed or obscured X-ray emission from the accretion disk, making the origin of the prompt emission unclear. In this paper, we present multiband optical polarization observations and optical spectrometry of a recent TDE candidate AT 2022fpx, alongside monitoring observations in optical, ultraviolet and X-rays. The optical spectra of AT 2022fpx show Bowen fluorescence as well as highly-ionized iron emission lines, which are characteristic of extreme coronal line emitters. Additionally, the source exhibits variable but low-polarized continuum emission at the outburst peak, with a clear rotation of the polarization angle. X-ray emission observed approximately 250 days after the outburst peak in the decay appear flare-like but is consistent with constant temperature black-body emission. The overall outburst decay is slower than for typical TDEs, and resembles more the ones seen from Bowen fluorescence flares. These observations suggest that AT 2022fpx could be a key source in linking different long-lived TDE scenarios. Its unique characteristics, such as extreme coronal line emission, variable polarization, and delayed X-ray flare, can be attributed to the outer shock scenario or a clumpy torus surrounding the supermassive black hole. Further studies, especially in the context of multi-wavelength observations, are crucial to fully understand the dynamics and emission mechanisms of these intriguing astrophysical events.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_04877
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The extreme coronal line emitter AT 2022fpx: Varying optical polarization properties and late-time X-ray flare
Koljonen, Karri I. I.
Liodakis, Ioannis
Lindfors, Elina
Nilsson, Kari
Reynolds, Thomas M.
Charalampopoulos, Panos
Kouroumpatzakis, Konstantinos
McCall, Callum
Jermak, Helen E.
Steele, Iain A.
Carbajo-Hijarrubia, Juan
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Supermassive black holes disrupt passing stars, producing outbursts called tidal disruption events (TDEs). TDEs have recently gained attention due to their unique dynamics and emission processes, which are still not fully understood. Especially, the so-called optical TDEs, are of interest as they often exhibit delayed or obscured X-ray emission from the accretion disk, making the origin of the prompt emission unclear. In this paper, we present multiband optical polarization observations and optical spectrometry of a recent TDE candidate AT 2022fpx, alongside monitoring observations in optical, ultraviolet and X-rays. The optical spectra of AT 2022fpx show Bowen fluorescence as well as highly-ionized iron emission lines, which are characteristic of extreme coronal line emitters. Additionally, the source exhibits variable but low-polarized continuum emission at the outburst peak, with a clear rotation of the polarization angle. X-ray emission observed approximately 250 days after the outburst peak in the decay appear flare-like but is consistent with constant temperature black-body emission. The overall outburst decay is slower than for typical TDEs, and resembles more the ones seen from Bowen fluorescence flares. These observations suggest that AT 2022fpx could be a key source in linking different long-lived TDE scenarios. Its unique characteristics, such as extreme coronal line emission, variable polarization, and delayed X-ray flare, can be attributed to the outer shock scenario or a clumpy torus surrounding the supermassive black hole. Further studies, especially in the context of multi-wavelength observations, are crucial to fully understand the dynamics and emission mechanisms of these intriguing astrophysical events.
title The extreme coronal line emitter AT 2022fpx: Varying optical polarization properties and late-time X-ray flare
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.04877