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Tidal Disruption Events

All articles tagged with #tidal disruption events

Stellar Spin Dictates Dimming in Repeating Black Hole Flares
space16 hours ago

Stellar Spin Dictates Dimming in Repeating Black Hole Flares

Researchers say the fading of flares in repeating partial tidal disruption events (rpTDEs) around supermassive black holes is tied to the star’s spin: if a star is already spinning rapidly before its first close pass, torques from the black hole don’t significantly speed up the spin, so less material is stripped in subsequent encounters and the flares dim. A star’s internal mass distribution and the possibility of prior spin-up from binary capture (Hills mechanism) can further influence the amount of stripped material and the degree of dimming, helping explain variations among rpTDEs, with findings published in The Astrophysical Journal.

via Space|
#binary-stars#black-holes#rptde
Black holes' delayed radio burps decoded
space2 months ago

Black holes' delayed radio burps decoded

Scientists reveal that the delayed radio bursts from tidal disruption events (stars torn apart by supermassive black holes) occur when the black hole’s feeding rate is either too fast or too slow, ejecting gas that slams into surrounding material to produce radio emissions. By combining decades of VLA radio data with optical/UV and X-ray follow-ups for 31 well-tracked TDEs (from a larger sample of 91 candidates), researchers mapped the actual gas consumption over time and linked late flares to two feeding-rate extremes. A helium emission signature in early spectra also signals a delayed disk formation. The study suggests a two-to-six-year window after discovery to detect these late emissions and shows the mechanism works across vastly different black-hole masses, helping scientists optimize telescope time.

via Space|
#astronomy#black-holes#radio-astronomy
Astronomers catch a rare middleweight black hole shredding a star
astronomy6 months ago

Astronomers catch a rare middleweight black hole shredding a star

Astronomers identified AT2022zod, an off-nuclear optical flare consistent with a tidal disruption event caused by an intermediate-mass black hole. Spotted in a distant galaxy about 1.5 billion light-years away and lasting roughly a month, its off-center location and short duration suggest the presence of an IMBH outside galactic centers, possibly in a globular cluster or ultracompact dwarf galaxy. This finding adds to evidence for elusive middleweight black holes and points to Rubin Observatory’s LSST as a key tool for discovering more cases.

via Space|
#astronomy#at2022zod#globular-cluster
Black Holes Cause Bright Blue Cosmic Flashes, Scientists Confirm
science8 months ago

Black Holes Cause Bright Blue Cosmic Flashes, Scientists Confirm

Scientists have identified that the brightest blue cosmic explosions, known as LFBOTs, are caused by black holes shredding stars in extreme Tidal Disruption Events, with the recent discovery of AT 2024wpp providing strong evidence that these events are far more energetic than typical supernovae and involve black holes feeding on companion stars, resulting in powerful high-energy emissions.

via Space|
#at-2024wpp#black-holes#cosmic-blasts
Star Survives Black Hole Encounter and Returns
science1 year ago

Star Survives Black Hole Encounter and Returns

A star has been observed escaping a supermassive black hole and returning for a second encounter, challenging previous understanding of tidal disruption events and suggesting some black holes may partially consume stars rather than fully destroy them. The discovery raises questions about the nature of these flares and whether stars can survive multiple close encounters with black holes, potentially rewriting theories about black hole-star interactions.

via Space|
#black-hole#cosmic-phenomena#flares
Astronomers Measure Supermassive Black Hole Spinning at Quarter Light Speed
science2 years ago

Astronomers Measure Supermassive Black Hole Spinning at Quarter Light Speed

Researchers have discovered that the "wobble" of an accretion disk formed from a star ripped apart by a supermassive black hole can reveal the black hole's spin speed. This wobble, caused by the Lense-Thirring effect, was observed using NASA's NICER X-ray telescope. The findings suggest that the black hole involved in the event was spinning slower than expected, at less than 25% the speed of light. Future observations, particularly with the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory, could provide more insights into the spin distribution and evolution of supermassive black holes.

via Space.com|
#astronomy#black-holes#mit
"Unraveling the Mystery of Short Supermassive Black Hole Jets"
astronomy2 years ago

"Unraveling the Mystery of Short Supermassive Black Hole Jets"

Astronomers have discovered that "Compact Symmetric Objects" (CSOs) are active galaxies with short-lived jets that are the result of supermassive black holes ripping apart massive stars in tidal disruption events (TDEs). These jets have short lifetimes of 5,000 years or less and then fade away. The team also found that only 1% of CSOs will go on to have long-lived events with extended jets. This research provides new insights into the behavior of supermassive black holes and the formation of CSOs, shedding light on a previously overlooked population of galaxies.

via Space.com|
#astronomy#galaxies#jets
"Shredded Stars Briefly Awaken Sleeping Supermassive Black Holes"
astronomy2 years ago

"Shredded Stars Briefly Awaken Sleeping Supermassive Black Holes"

Astronomers have discovered that Compact Symmetric Objects (CSOs), a class of active galaxies hosting supermassive black holes, have relatively short lifespans of thousands of years, unlike other galaxies with longer-lived jets. These jets are likely fueled by tidal disruption events, where a single massive star is shredded by a supermassive black hole, leading to the formation of ultrafast bipolar jets that last up to 5,000 years. The study, led by a Caltech team, identified and verified 64 CSOs, shedding light on a distinct population of galaxies and providing a new avenue for studying interactions between massive stars and supermassive black holes.

via Phys.org|
#astronomy#compact-symmetric-objects#jets
"Discovery: Infrared Reveals Massive Black Hole Feeding Frenzy"
astronomy2 years ago

"Discovery: Infrared Reveals Massive Black Hole Feeding Frenzy"

An international team of researchers has discovered 18 previously hidden tidal disruption events (TDEs) where black holes tear apart stars, using infrared observations to penetrate dust-rich galaxies. These events, which were missed by optical and X-ray searches, provide new insights into TDE demographics and suggest that TDEs may be more common than previously thought. The findings also address the "missing energy" question and indicate that future surveys with infrared capabilities could reveal hundreds or even thousands of TDEs annually.

via Ars Technica|
#astronomy#black-holes#dusty-galaxies