Time-varying double-peaked emission lines following the sudden ignition of the dormant galactic nucleus AT2017bcc

Author:

Ridley E J12ORCID,Nicholl M3ORCID,Ward C A4,Blanchard P K5,Chornock R6ORCID,Fraser M7ORCID,Gomez S8,Mattila S910,Oates S R12ORCID,Pratten G12,Runnoe J C11ORCID,Schmidt P12,Alexander K D12,Gromadzki M13ORCID,Lawrence A14ORCID,Reynolds T M91516ORCID,Smith K W3,Wyrzykowski Ł13,Aamer A23ORCID,Anderson J P1718,Benetti S19ORCID,Berger E20,de Boer T21,Chambers K C21,Chen T -W22,Gao H21ORCID,Gutiérrez C P2324ORCID,Inserra C25ORCID,Kangas T2627ORCID,Leloudas G28,Magnier E A21,Makrygianni L29,Moore T3,Müller-Bravo T E2324,Smartt S J303ORCID,Sokolovsky K V3132ORCID,Wainscoat R21,Young D R3

Affiliation:

1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston B15 2TT , UK

2. Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston B15 2TT , UK

3. Astrophysics Research Centre, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University Belfast , Belfast BT7 1NN , UK

4. Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University , Princeton, NJ 08544 , USA

5. Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), Northwestern University , 1800 Sherman Avenue 8th Floor, Evanston, IL 60201 , USA

6. Department of Astronomy, University of California , Berkeley, CA 94720–3411 , USA

7. School of Physics, O’Brien Centre for Science North, University College Dublin , Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 P7W1 , Ireland

8. Space Telescope Science Institute , 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218 , USA

9. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku , FI-20500 Turku , Finland

10. School of Sciences, European University Cyprus , Diogenes Street, Engomi, 1516, Nicosia , Cyprus

11. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University , Nashville, TN 37235 , USA

12. Department of Astronomy/Steward Observatory , 933 North Cherry Avenue, Rm. N204, Tucson, AZ 85721–0065 , USA

13. Astronomical Observatory, University of Warsaw , Al. Ujazdowskie 4, PL-00–478 Warszawa , Poland

14. Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory , Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ , UK

15. Cosmic Dawn Center (DAWN) , 2800 Kgs. Lyngby , Denmark

16. Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen , Jagtvej 128, DK-2200 Copenhagen N , Denmark

17. European Southern Observatory , Alonso de Córdova 3107, Casilla 19, Santiago , Chile

18. Millennium Institute of Astrophysics MAS , Nuncio Monsenor Sotero Sanz 100, Off. 104, Providencia, Santiago , Chile

19. INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova , Vicolo dell’Osservatorio 5, I-35122 Padova , Italy

20. Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian , 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138–1516 , USA

21. Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai’i , 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822 , USA

22. Technische Universität München, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Physik-Department , James-Franck-Straße 1, D-85748 Garching , Germany

23. Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), Gran Capità , 2–4, Edifici Nexus, Desp. 201, E-08034 Barcelona , Spain

24. Institute of Space Sciences (ICE, CSIC) , Campus UAB, Carrer de Can Magrans, s/n, E-08193 Barcelona , Spain

25. Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology, School of Physics & Astronomy, Cardiff University, Queens Buildings , The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AA , UK

26. Finnish Centre for Astronomy with ESO (FINCA), University of Turku , FI-20014 Turku , Finland

27. Tuorla Observatory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku , FI-20014 Turku , Finland

28. DTU Space, National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark , Elektrovej 327, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby , Denmark

29. The School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv 69978 , Israel

30. Department of Physics, University of Oxford , Denys Wilkinson Building, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH , UK

31. Department of Astronomy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 1002 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801 , USA

32. Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University , Universitetskii pr. 13, 119992 Moscow, Russia

Abstract

ABSTRACT We present a pan-chromatic study of AT2017bcc, a nuclear transient that was discovered in 2017 within the skymap of a reported burst-like gravitational-wave candidate, G274296. It was initially classified as a superluminous supernova, and then reclassified as a candidate tidal disruption event. Its optical light curve has since shown ongoing variability with a structure function consistent with that of an active galactic nucleus, however, earlier data show no variability for at least 10 yr prior to the outburst in 2017. The spectrum shows complex profiles in the broad Balmer lines: a central component with a broad-blue wing, and a boxy component with time-variable blue and red shoulders. The H α emission profile is well modelled using a circular accretion disc component, and a blue-shifted double Gaussian which may indicate a partially obscured outflow. Weak narrow lines, together with the previously flat light curve, suggest that this object represents a dormant galactic nucleus which has recently been re-activated. Our time-series modelling of the Balmer lines suggests that this is connected to a disturbance in the disc morphology, and we speculate this could involve a sudden violent event such as a tidal disruption event involving the central supermassive black hole, though this cannot be confirmed, and given an estimated black hole mass of ≳ 107–108 M⊙ instabilities in an existing disc may be more likely. Although we find that the redshifts of AT2017bcc (z = 0.13) and G274296 (z > 0.42) are inconsistent, this event adds to the growing diversity of both nuclear transients and multimessenger contaminants.

Funder

STFC

European Research Council

UK Space Agency

Royal Society

Science Foundation Ireland

Finnish Academy of Science and Letters

Horizon 2020

Government of Catalonia

Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

Agencia Estatal de Investigación

Villum Fonden

NASA

Canada Foundation for Innovation

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

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