The faintest, extremely variable X-ray tidal disruption event from a supermassive black hole binary?
Mengqiu Huang1,2, Yongquan Xue1,2, Shuo Li3
1Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China.
Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.))
|March 6, 2026
Summary
Researchers discovered XID 935, an unusual X-ray transient, offering new insights into tidal disruption events (TDEs). This event challenges current models, highlighting the need for refined simulations of supermassive black hole interactions.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Time-domain Astronomy
- High-energy Astrophysics
Background:
- Tidal disruption events (TDEs) occur when stars are destroyed by supermassive black holes (SMBHs).
- These events are crucial for understanding SMBH physics and galaxy evolution.
- Time-domain astronomy enables the study of transient phenomena like TDEs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the discovery and characterization of an unusual X-ray transient, XID 935.
- To investigate the TDE candidate using deep X-ray observations.
- To test existing theoretical models against the observed light curves of XID 935.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 7 Ms Chandra Deep Field-South survey, the deepest X-ray survey to date.
- Analyzed 20-year-long X-ray light curves of XID 935, securing a total exposure of ~9.5 Ms.
- Compared observational data with partial TDE and SMBH binary TDE models.
Main Results:
- XID 935 exhibited an overall X-ray dimming by over a factor of 40 between 1999 and 2016.
- Observed a significant X-ray luminosity increase of >27 times within two months in 2015.
- The peak X-ray flux of XID 935 is the faintest recorded for an X-ray-selected TDE candidate.
Conclusions:
- A partial TDE model cannot fully explain the observed declining trend of XID 935.
- An SMBH binary TDE model partially fits the light curves but struggles with short-term fluctuations.
- XID 935's unique features serve as a critical benchmark for improving TDE models and simulations.
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