Abstract / Description of output
We present an initial analysis of 49 bright transients occurring in the
nuclei of galaxies with no previous known Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN).
They have been discovered as part of the PanSTARRs 3π survey, and
followed up with the Liverpool Telescope. Based on colours, light curve
shape, and a small number with optical spectra, these transients seem to
fall into three groups. Red/fast transients are nuclear supernovae of
various types. Some bright nuclear transients are blue and decay on a
timescale of a few months; these may be candidates for tidal disruption
events. However most of the events we have found are blue and are either
still rising or decaying slowly, on a timescale of years; the few
spectra we have show AGN at z ˜ 1. We argue that these transients
are background AGN microlensed by stars in foreground galaxies by a
factor 10-100. Monitoring such events gives us very promising prospects
for measuring the structure of AGN and so testing current theories.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3002 |
| Journal | Tidal Disruption Events and AGN Outbursts, Madrid, Spain, Edited by R. Saxton; S. Komossa; EPJ Web of Conferences, Volume 39, id.03002 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2012 |