paper

Discovery of a Fast Iron Low-ionization Outflow in the Early Evolution of the Nearby Tidal Disruption Event AT2019qiz

arXiv:2011.01593 · doi:10.3847/1538-4357/abf4c3

Abstract

We report the results of ultraviolet (UV) and optical photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the tidal disruption event (TDE) AT2019qiz. Our follow-up observations started 10 days after the source began to brighten in the optical and lasted for a period of six months. Our late-time host-dominated spectrum indicates that the host galaxy likely harbors a weak active galactic nucleus. The initial {\it Hubble Space Telescope (HST)} spectrum of AT2019qiz exhibits an iron and low-ionization broad absorption line (FeLoBAL) system that is seen for the first time in a TDE. This spectrum also bears a striking resemblance to that of Gaia16apd, a superluminous supernova. Our observations provide insights into the outflow properties in TDEs and show evidence for a connection between TDEs and engine-powered supernovae at early phase, as originally suggested in Metzger & Stone (2016). In a time frame of 50 days, the UV spectra of AT2019qiz started to resemble previous TDEs with only high-ionization BALs. The change in UV spectral signatures is accompanied by a decrease in the outflow velocity, which began at km s and decelerated to km s. A similar evolution in the H emission line width further supports the speculation that the broad Balmer emission lines are formed in TDE outflows. In addition, we detect narrow absorption features on top of the FeLoBAL signatures in the early HST UV spectrum of AT2019qiz. The measured HI column density corresponds to a Lyman-limit system whereas the metal absorption lines, such as NV, CIV, FeII, and MgII, are likely probing the circumnuclear gas and interstellar medium in the host galaxy.

arXiv comment31 pages, 13 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ on Apr 1 2021

References in corpus (85)

Cited by in corpus (24)