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Abstract The tidal disruption event (TDE) AT2022cmc represents the fourth known example of a relativistic jet produced by the tidal disruption of a stray star, providing a unique probe of the formation and evolution of relativistic jets in otherwise dormant supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Here we present deep, late-time Chandra observations of AT2022cmc extending totobs≈ 400 days after disruption. Our observations reveal a sudden decrease in the X-ray brightness by a factor of ≳14 over a factor of ≈2.3 in time, and a deviation from the earlier power-law decline with a steepeningα≳ 3.2 (FX∝t−α), steeper than expected for a jet break, and pointing to the cessation of jet activity attobs≈ 215 days. Such a transition has been observed in two previous TDEs (Swift J1644+57 and Swift J2058+05). From the X-ray luminosity and the timescale of jet shut-off, we parameterize the mass of the SMBH in terms of unknown jet efficiency and accreted mass fraction parameters. Motivated by the disk–jet connection in active galactic nuclei, we favor black hole masses ≲105M⊙(where the jet and disk luminosities are comparable), and disfavor larger black holes (in which extremely powerful jets are required to outshine their accretion disks). We additionally estimate a total accreted mass of ≈0.1M⊙. Applying the same formalism to Swift J1644+57 and Swift J2058+05, we favor comparable black hole masses for these TDEs of ≲ a few × 105M⊙, and suggest that jetted TDEs may preferentially form from lower-mass black holes when compared to nonrelativistic events, owing to generally lower jet and higher disk efficiencies at higher black hole masses.
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This content will become publicly available on March 31, 2026
Revisiting X-Ray Afterglows of Jetted Tidal Disruption Events with the External Reverse Shock
Abstract We investigate the external reverse shock (RS) region of relativistic jets as the origin of X-ray afterglows of jetted tidal disruption events (TDEs) that exhibit luminous jets accompanied by fast-declining nonthermal X-ray emissions. We model the dynamics of jet propagating within an external density medium, accounting for continuous energy injection driven by accretion activities. We compute the time-dependent synchrotron and inverse Compton emissions from the RS region. Our analysis demonstrates that the RS scenario can potentially explain the X-ray light curves and spectra of four jetted TDEs, namely, AT 2022cmc, Swift J1644, Swift J2058, and Swift J1112. Notably, the rapid steepening of the late-stage X-ray light curves can be attributed jointly to the jet break and cessation of the central engine as the accretion rate drops below the Eddington limit. Using parameters obtained from X-ray data fitting, we also discuss the prospects forγ-ray and neutrino detection.
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- PAR ID:
- 10652363
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Astronomical Society.
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Volume:
- 982
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 0004-637X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 196
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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