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author Quirola-Vásquez, J.
Jonker, P. G.
Levan, A. J.
Malesani, D. B.
Bauer, F. E.
Sarin, N.
Lamb, G. P.
Martin-Carrillo, A.
Sánchez-Sierras, J.
Fraser, M.
Izzo, L.
Ravasio, M. E.
Sánchez, D. Mata
Torres, M. A. P.
van Dalen, J. N. D.
van Hoof, A. P. C.
Chacón, J. A.
Littlefair, S.
Dhillon, V. S.
Cotter, L.
Corcoran, G.
Eyles-Ferris, R. A. J.
O'Brien, P. T.
Stern, D.
D'Elia, V.
Hartmann, D. H.
author_facet Quirola-Vásquez, J.
Jonker, P. G.
Levan, A. J.
Malesani, D. B.
Bauer, F. E.
Sarin, N.
Lamb, G. P.
Martin-Carrillo, A.
Sánchez-Sierras, J.
Fraser, M.
Izzo, L.
Ravasio, M. E.
Sánchez, D. Mata
Torres, M. A. P.
van Dalen, J. N. D.
van Hoof, A. P. C.
Chacón, J. A.
Littlefair, S.
Dhillon, V. S.
Cotter, L.
Corcoran, G.
Eyles-Ferris, R. A. J.
O'Brien, P. T.
Stern, D.
D'Elia, V.
Hartmann, D. H.
contents We present a multi-wavelength analysis of the fast X-ray transient EP 241021a, discovered by the Wide-field X-ray Telescope aboard the \emph{Einstein Probe} satellite on 2024 October 21. The event was not detected in gamma-rays. Follow-up observations from $\sim$1.5 to 100 days post-trigger were obtained across X-ray, UV, optical, near-infrared, and radio bands with ground- and space-based facilities. The redshift is constrained to $z = 0.7485$ from prominent optical spectral features. The optical light curve shows complex evolution: an initial $\sim t^{-0.7}$ decay, followed by a rapid re-brightening peaking at day 7.7 with $\sim t^{-1.7}$ decay, and a third phase peaking near day 19 with $\sim t^{-1.3}$ decay. The spectral energy distribution (SED) and its temporal evolution are consistent with a mix of non-thermal and thermal components. Early optical-to-X-ray spectral indices agree with optically thin synchrotron emission, while steepening of the optical SED after $\sim$20 days indicates either a shift in emission mechanism or the emergence of an additional component. Although broad-lined absorption features are absent, comparisons with type Ic-BL supernovae suggest a SN contribution at late times, suggesting a collapsar origin for EP 241021a. The likely SN in EP 241021a appears to require an additional energy source beyond $^{56}$Ni decay. These results support the view that some fast X-ray transients detected by the \emph{Einstein Probe} arise from massive stellar explosions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_13314
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Unveiling the nature of the Einstein Probe transient EP 241021a
Quirola-Vásquez, J.
Jonker, P. G.
Levan, A. J.
Malesani, D. B.
Bauer, F. E.
Sarin, N.
Lamb, G. P.
Martin-Carrillo, A.
Sánchez-Sierras, J.
Fraser, M.
Izzo, L.
Ravasio, M. E.
Sánchez, D. Mata
Torres, M. A. P.
van Dalen, J. N. D.
van Hoof, A. P. C.
Chacón, J. A.
Littlefair, S.
Dhillon, V. S.
Cotter, L.
Corcoran, G.
Eyles-Ferris, R. A. J.
O'Brien, P. T.
Stern, D.
D'Elia, V.
Hartmann, D. H.
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
We present a multi-wavelength analysis of the fast X-ray transient EP 241021a, discovered by the Wide-field X-ray Telescope aboard the \emph{Einstein Probe} satellite on 2024 October 21. The event was not detected in gamma-rays. Follow-up observations from $\sim$1.5 to 100 days post-trigger were obtained across X-ray, UV, optical, near-infrared, and radio bands with ground- and space-based facilities. The redshift is constrained to $z = 0.7485$ from prominent optical spectral features. The optical light curve shows complex evolution: an initial $\sim t^{-0.7}$ decay, followed by a rapid re-brightening peaking at day 7.7 with $\sim t^{-1.7}$ decay, and a third phase peaking near day 19 with $\sim t^{-1.3}$ decay. The spectral energy distribution (SED) and its temporal evolution are consistent with a mix of non-thermal and thermal components. Early optical-to-X-ray spectral indices agree with optically thin synchrotron emission, while steepening of the optical SED after $\sim$20 days indicates either a shift in emission mechanism or the emergence of an additional component. Although broad-lined absorption features are absent, comparisons with type Ic-BL supernovae suggest a SN contribution at late times, suggesting a collapsar origin for EP 241021a. The likely SN in EP 241021a appears to require an additional energy source beyond $^{56}$Ni decay. These results support the view that some fast X-ray transients detected by the \emph{Einstein Probe} arise from massive stellar explosions.
title Unveiling the nature of the Einstein Probe transient EP 241021a
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.13314