WE HAVE DISCOVERED AN UNPRECEDENTEDLY LONG ($>$10 YRS) X-RAY TIDAL DISRUPTION EVENT CANDIDATE. IT SHOWED SEVERAL INTERESTING SIGNATURES OF SUPER-EDDINGTON ACCRETION: QUASISOFT X-RAY SPECTRA EDDINGTON-LIMITED LUMINOSITY AND LATER TRANSITION TO THE THERMAL STATE OF MUCH SOFTER SPECTRA. THEREFORE THIS EVENT PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDY OF SUPER-EDDINGTON ACCRETION ONTO SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES. THE SOURCE NOW APPREARS TO BE IN THE THERMAL STATE. WE REQUEST XMM-NEWTON TO HAVE ONE MORE OBSERVATION IN AO18 ON THIS TARGET TWO YEARS AFTER THE LAST MONITORING AND WHEN THE EVENT IS TURNING TO A PHASE OF FASTER DECAY. CONTINUED MONITORING IS CRITICAL FOR THE MODELING OF THE EVENT AND ATION OF ITS NATURE AS THE MOST SPECTACULAR TIDAL DISRUPTION EVENT KNOWN.
$60,478FY2021National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA
Northeastern University, Boston MA