AN ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRUM OF THE TIDAL DISRUPTION FLARE ASASSN-14li

作者:Cenko S Bradley*; Cucchiara Antonino; Roth Nathaniel; Veilleux Sylvain; Prochaska J Xavier; Yan Lin; Guillochon James; Maksym W Peter; Arcavi Iair; Butler Nathaniel R; Filippenko Alexei V; Fruchter Andrew S; Gezari Suvi; Kasen Daniel; Levan Andrew J; Miller Jon M; Pasham Dheeraj R; Ramirez Ruiz Enrico; Strubbe Linda E; Tanvir Nial R; Tombesi Francesco
来源:Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2016, 818(2): L32.
DOI:10.3847/2041-8205/818/2/L32

摘要

We present a Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph spectrum of ASASSN-14li, the first rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) spectrum of a tidal disruption flare (TDF). The underlying continuum is well fit by a blackbody with T-UV 3.5 x 10(4) K, an order of magnitude smaller than the temperature inferred from X-ray spectra (and significantly more precise than previous efforts based on optical and near-UV photometry). Superimposed on this blue continuum, we detect three classes of features: narrow absorption from the Milky Way (probably a high-velocity cloud), and narrow absorption and broad (similar to 2000-8000 km s(-1)) emission lines at or near the systemic host velocity. The absorption lines are blueshifted with respect to the emission lines by Delta nu = -(250-400) km s(-1). Due both to this velocity offset and the lack of common low-ionization features (Mg II, Fe II), we argue these arise from the same absorbing material responsible for the low-velocity outflow discovered at X-ray wavelengths. The broad nuclear emission lines display a remarkable abundance pattern: N III], NIV], and He II are quite prominent, while the common quasar emission lines of C III] and Mg II are weak or entirely absent. Detailed modeling of this spectrum will help elucidate fundamental questions regarding the nature of the emission processes at work in TDFs, while future UV spectroscopy of ASASSN-14li would help to confirm (or refute) the previously proposed connection between TDFs and "N-rich" quasars.

  • 出版日期2016-2-20
  • 单位中国科学院理论物理研究所