IGR J12580+0134: The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event and Its Faint Resurrection

Tidal disruption events (TDEs) are X-ray and gamma-ray radiations emerging from the tidal disintegration of a star or substellar object that passes too close to a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of a galaxy. In 2010 November, a TDE designated as IGR J12580+0134 occurred in the galaxy NG...

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Main Author: A. Danehkar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adce7e
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author A. Danehkar
author_facet A. Danehkar
author_sort A. Danehkar
collection DOAJ
description Tidal disruption events (TDEs) are X-ray and gamma-ray radiations emerging from the tidal disintegration of a star or substellar object that passes too close to a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of a galaxy. In 2010 November, a TDE designated as IGR J12580+0134 occurred in the galaxy NGC 4845, and it was traced by follow-up XMM-Newton observations in 2011 January. To identify a further TDE based on the radio outburst cycle, we requested NICER monitoring observations for nearly 1 yr beginning in 2023 March, which we studied here along with the previous XMM-Newton observations. We analyzed X-ray brightness changes using hardness analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) and conducted spectral analysis of the source continuum. The NICER observations revealed the presence of some X-ray flares during 2023 March–June that were much fainter than the TDE observed using XMM-Newton in 2011. The PCA component that mainly contributes to the X-ray outbursts during the TDE is a heavily absorbed power-law continuum emission, whereas there is a small contribution from collisionally ionized plasma in the soft excess, likely from a colliding wind or jet. Similarly, the PCA of the NICER data relates the X-ray flares to a power-law spectrum, albeit with a much lower absorbing column, and partially to soft collisional plasma. The faint X-ray flares captured by NICER could be associated with extremely weak accretion onto the SMBH resident in this galaxy and thus potentially a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus.
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spelling doaj-art-30badff9c6aa481ca96fda7b284e9d3b2025-08-20T02:32:07ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-0198615010.3847/1538-4357/adce7eIGR J12580+0134: The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event and Its Faint ResurrectionA. Danehkar0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4552-5997Eureka Scientific , 2452 Delmer Street, Suite 100, Oakland, CA 94602-3017, USA ; danehkar@eurekasci.comTidal disruption events (TDEs) are X-ray and gamma-ray radiations emerging from the tidal disintegration of a star or substellar object that passes too close to a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of a galaxy. In 2010 November, a TDE designated as IGR J12580+0134 occurred in the galaxy NGC 4845, and it was traced by follow-up XMM-Newton observations in 2011 January. To identify a further TDE based on the radio outburst cycle, we requested NICER monitoring observations for nearly 1 yr beginning in 2023 March, which we studied here along with the previous XMM-Newton observations. We analyzed X-ray brightness changes using hardness analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) and conducted spectral analysis of the source continuum. The NICER observations revealed the presence of some X-ray flares during 2023 March–June that were much fainter than the TDE observed using XMM-Newton in 2011. The PCA component that mainly contributes to the X-ray outbursts during the TDE is a heavily absorbed power-law continuum emission, whereas there is a small contribution from collisionally ionized plasma in the soft excess, likely from a colliding wind or jet. Similarly, the PCA of the NICER data relates the X-ray flares to a power-law spectrum, albeit with a much lower absorbing column, and partially to soft collisional plasma. The faint X-ray flares captured by NICER could be associated with extremely weak accretion onto the SMBH resident in this galaxy and thus potentially a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adce7eTidal disruptionActive galaxiesActive galactic nucleiBlack hole physicsX-ray sourcesPrincipal component analysis
spellingShingle A. Danehkar
IGR J12580+0134: The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event and Its Faint Resurrection
The Astrophysical Journal
Tidal disruption
Active galaxies
Active galactic nuclei
Black hole physics
X-ray sources
Principal component analysis
title IGR J12580+0134: The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event and Its Faint Resurrection
title_full IGR J12580+0134: The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event and Its Faint Resurrection
title_fullStr IGR J12580+0134: The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event and Its Faint Resurrection
title_full_unstemmed IGR J12580+0134: The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event and Its Faint Resurrection
title_short IGR J12580+0134: The Nearest Tidal Disruption Event and Its Faint Resurrection
title_sort igr j12580 0134 the nearest tidal disruption event and its faint resurrection
topic Tidal disruption
Active galaxies
Active galactic nuclei
Black hole physics
X-ray sources
Principal component analysis
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adce7e
work_keys_str_mv AT adanehkar igrj125800134thenearesttidaldisruptioneventanditsfaintresurrection