Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-26-2024
Abstract
We present the first deep X-ray observations of luminous fast blue optical transient (LFBOT) AT 2018cow at ∼3.7 yr since discovery, together with the reanalysis of the observation at δt ∼ 220 days. X-ray emission is significantly detected at a location consistent with AT 2018cow. The very soft X-ray spectrum and sustained luminosity are distinct from the spectral and temporal behavior of the LFBOT in the first ∼100 days and would possibly signal the emergence of a new emission component, although a robust association with AT 2018cow can only be claimed at δt ∼ 220 days, while at δt ∼ 1350 days contamination of the host galaxy cannot be excluded. We interpret these findings in the context of the late-time panchromatic emission from AT 2018cow, which includes the detection of persistent, slowly fading UV emission with νLν ≈ 1039 erg s−1. Similar to previous works (and in analogy with arguments for ultraluminous X-ray sources), these late-time observations are consistent with thin disks around intermediate-mass black holes (with M• ≈ 103–104M☉) accreting at sub-Eddington rates. However, differently from previous studies, we find that smaller-mass black holes with M• ≈ 10–100 M☉ accreting at ≳the Eddington rate cannot be ruled out and provide a natural explanation for the inferred compact size (Rout ≈ 40 R☉) of the accretion disk years after the optical flare. Most importantly, irrespective of the accretor mass, our study lends support to the hypothesis that LFBOTs are accretion-powered phenomena and that, specifically, LFBOTs constitute electromagnetic manifestations of super-Eddington accreting systems that evolve to ≲Eddington over a ≈100-day timescale.
Recommended Citation
Migliori, Giulia, R. Margutti, B. D. Metzger, R. Chornock, C. Vignali, D. Brethauer, D. L. Coppejans et al. "Roaring to Softly Whispering: X-Ray Emission after∼ 3.7 yr at the Location of the Transient AT2018cow and Implications for Accretion-powered Scenarios." The Astrophysical Journal Letters 963, no. 1 (2024): L24. https://doi.og/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2764
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Publication Title
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
DOI
10.3847/2041-8213/ad2764
Comments
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