Allen Telescope Array Helps Uncover Hidden Black Hole Tearing Apart a Star
An international observing campaign, including radio observations with the Allen Telescope Array (ATA), has discovered an unprecedented burst of radio activity from a tidal disruption event (TDE).
TDEs occur when a star wanders too close to a supermassive black hole (SMBH) and is ripped apart by its strong gravitational forces, lighting up the cosmos across all wavelengths.
The particular TDE, named AT 2024tvd, stands out due to its record-breaking speed and off-center location, away from the nucleus of its galaxy.
Artist’s interpretation of two massive black holes (MBHs) within a galaxy, with a tidal disruption event unfolding around the MBH.
Author's summary: Astronomers uncover a unique tidal disruption event using the Allen Telescope Array.