Lense–Thirring precession after a supermassive black hole
disrupts a star

J 2024

Lense–Thirring precession after a supermassive black hole disrupts a star

PASHAM, Dheeraj R., Michal ZAJAČEK, C. J. NIXON, Eric R. COUGHLIN, Marzena ŚNIEGOWSKA et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Lense–Thirring precession after a supermassive black hole disrupts a star

Authors

PASHAM, Dheeraj R. (guarantor), Michal ZAJAČEK (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), C. J. NIXON, Eric R. COUGHLIN, Marzena ŚNIEGOWSKA, Agnieszka JANIUK, Bożena CZERNY, Thomas WEVERS, Muryel GUOLO, Yukta AJAY and Michael LOEWENSTEIN

Edition

Nature, Springer, 2024, 0028-0836

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10308 Astronomy

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 64.800 in 2022

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07433-w

UT WoS

001262392300025

Keywords in English

Compact astrophysical objects; General relativity and gravity; High-energy astrophysics; Transient astrophysical phenomena

Abstract

V originále

An accretion disk formed around a supermassive black hole after it disrupts a star is expected to be initially misaligned with respect to the equatorial plane of the black hole. This misalignment induces relativistic torques (the Lense–Thirring effect) on the disk, causing the disk to precess at early times, whereas at late times the disk aligns with the black hole and precession terminates1,2. Here we report, using high-cadence X-ray monitoring observations of a tidal disruption event (TDE), the discovery of strong, quasi-periodic X-ray flux and temperature modulations. These X-ray modulations are separated by roughly 15 days and persist for about 130 days during the early phase of the TDE. Lense–Thirring precession of the accretion flow can produce this X-ray variability, but other physical mechanisms, such as the radiation-pressure instability3,4, cannot be ruled out. Assuming typical TDE parameters, that is, a solar-like star with the resulting disk extending at most to the so-called circularization radius, and that the disk precesses as a rigid body, we constrain the disrupting dimensionless spin parameter of the black hole to be 0.05 ≲ ∣a∣ ≲ 0.5.

Links

GM24-10599M, research and development project

Name: Hvězdy v galaktických jádrech: vzájemný vztah s masivními černými dírami

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Stars in galactic nuclei: interrelation with massive black holes

Citovat

PASHAM, Dheeraj R., Michal ZAJAČEK, C. J. NIXON, Eric R. COUGHLIN, Marzena ŚNIEGOWSKA, Agnieszka JANIUK, Bożena CZERNY, Thomas WEVERS, Muryel GUOLO, Yukta AJAY and Michael LOEWENSTEIN. Lense–Thirring precession after a supermassive black hole disrupts a star. Nature. Springer, 2024, vol. 630, No 8016, p. 325-328. ISSN 0028-0836. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07433-w.

@article{2417425,
   author = {Pasham, Dheeraj R. and Zajaček, Michal and Nixon, C. J. and Coughlin, Eric R. and Śniegowska, Marzena and Janiuk, Agnieszka and Czerny, Bożena and Wevers, Thomas and Guolo, Muryel and Ajay, Yukta and Loewenstein, Michael},
   article_number = {8016},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07433-w},
   keywords = {Compact astrophysical objects; General relativity and gravity; High-energy astrophysics; Transient astrophysical phenomena},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0028-0836},
   journal = {Nature},
   title = {Lense–Thirring precession after a supermassive black hole disrupts a star},
   url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07433-w},
   volume = {630},
   year = {2024}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2417425
AU  - Pasham, Dheeraj R. - Zajaček, Michal - Nixon, C. J. - Coughlin, Eric R. - Śniegowska, Marzena - Janiuk, Agnieszka - Czerny, Bożena - Wevers, Thomas - Guolo, Muryel - Ajay, Yukta - Loewenstein, Michael
PY  - 2024
TI  - Lense–Thirring precession after a supermassive black hole disrupts a star
JF  - Nature
VL  - 630
IS  - 8016
SP  - 325-328
EP  - 325-328
PB  - Springer
SN  - 00280836
KW  - Compact astrophysical objects
KW  - General relativity and gravity
KW  - High-energy astrophysics
KW  - Transient astrophysical phenomena
UR  - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07433-w
N2  - An accretion disk formed around a supermassive black hole after it disrupts a star is expected to be initially misaligned with respect to the equatorial plane of the black hole. This misalignment induces relativistic torques (the Lense–Thirring effect) on the disk, causing the disk to precess at early times, whereas at late times the disk aligns with the black hole and precession terminates1,2. Here we report, using high-cadence X-ray monitoring observations of a tidal disruption event (TDE), the discovery of strong, quasi-periodic X-ray flux and temperature modulations. These X-ray modulations are separated by roughly 15 days and persist for about 130 days during the early phase of the TDE. Lense–Thirring precession of the accretion flow can produce this X-ray variability, but other physical mechanisms, such as the radiation-pressure instability3,4, cannot be ruled out. Assuming typical TDE parameters, that is, a solar-like star with the resulting disk extending at most to the so-called circularization radius, and that the disk precesses as a rigid body, we constrain the disrupting dimensionless spin parameter of the black hole to be 0.05 ≲ ∣a∣ ≲ 0.5.
ER  -

PASHAM, Dheeraj R., Michal ZAJAČEK, C. J. NIXON, Eric R. COUGHLIN, Marzena $\backslash$'SNIEGOWSKA, Agnieszka JANIUK, Bo$\backslash$.zena CZERNY, Thomas WEVERS, Muryel GUOLO, Yukta AJAY and Michael LOEWENSTEIN. Lense–Thirring precession after a supermassive black hole disrupts a star. \textit{Nature}. Springer, 2024, vol.~630, No~8016, p.~325-328. ISSN~0028-0836. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07433-w.

Detailed Information on Publication Record