NICER observations reveal doubled timescales in Ansky's quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs)

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Hernández-García, L., Sánchez-Sáez, P., Chakraborty, J., Cuadra, J., Miniutti, G., Arcodia, R., Arévalo, P., Giustini, M., Kara, E., Ricci, C., Pasham, D. R., Arzoumanian, Z., Gendreau, K., Lira, P.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Hernández-García, L.
Sánchez-Sáez, P.
Chakraborty, J.
Cuadra, J.
Miniutti, G.
Arcodia, R.
Arévalo, P.
Giustini, M.
Kara, E.
Ricci, C.
Pasham, D. R.
Arzoumanian, Z.
Gendreau, K.
Lira, P.
author_facet Hernández-García, L.
Sánchez-Sáez, P.
Chakraborty, J.
Cuadra, J.
Miniutti, G.
Arcodia, R.
Arévalo, P.
Giustini, M.
Kara, E.
Ricci, C.
Pasham, D. R.
Arzoumanian, Z.
Gendreau, K.
Lira, P.
contents Quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs) are recurring X-ray bursts originating from the vicinity of supermassive black holes, but their driving mechanisms remain under debate. This study analyzes new NICER observations of QPEs in Ansky (a transient event in the nucleus of the galaxy SDSS J1335+0728), taken between January and June 2025. By examining flare durations, peak-to-peak recurrence times, and profiles, we compare the 2025 data with those from 2024 to investigate changes in energy, timescales, and flare shapes. The 2025 QPEs are found to be four times more energetic, with recurrence times of approximately 10 days and flare durations ranging from 2.5 to 4 days, making them both about twice as long as in 2024. Additionally, the flare profiles have become more asymmetric, showing longer decays. We explore different theoretical scenarios to explain the observed properties of the QPEs in Ansky, including evolving stream-disk interactions in an extreme mass-ratio inspiral (EMRI) system as a potential mechanism behind the observed changes in recurrence time and energetics, while also considering alternative models based on mass transfer and accretion disk instabilities. Continued observational efforts will be crucial for unveiling the nature of Ansky.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_16304
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle NICER observations reveal doubled timescales in Ansky's quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs)
Hernández-García, L.
Sánchez-Sáez, P.
Chakraborty, J.
Cuadra, J.
Miniutti, G.
Arcodia, R.
Arévalo, P.
Giustini, M.
Kara, E.
Ricci, C.
Pasham, D. R.
Arzoumanian, Z.
Gendreau, K.
Lira, P.
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs) are recurring X-ray bursts originating from the vicinity of supermassive black holes, but their driving mechanisms remain under debate. This study analyzes new NICER observations of QPEs in Ansky (a transient event in the nucleus of the galaxy SDSS J1335+0728), taken between January and June 2025. By examining flare durations, peak-to-peak recurrence times, and profiles, we compare the 2025 data with those from 2024 to investigate changes in energy, timescales, and flare shapes. The 2025 QPEs are found to be four times more energetic, with recurrence times of approximately 10 days and flare durations ranging from 2.5 to 4 days, making them both about twice as long as in 2024. Additionally, the flare profiles have become more asymmetric, showing longer decays. We explore different theoretical scenarios to explain the observed properties of the QPEs in Ansky, including evolving stream-disk interactions in an extreme mass-ratio inspiral (EMRI) system as a potential mechanism behind the observed changes in recurrence time and energetics, while also considering alternative models based on mass transfer and accretion disk instabilities. Continued observational efforts will be crucial for unveiling the nature of Ansky.
title NICER observations reveal doubled timescales in Ansky's quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs)
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.16304