Dark Energy Survey Discovery of a Likely Tidal Disruption Event

ATel #6877; R. J. Foley (University of Illinois); P. K. Blanchard, P. Challis, M. Drout, R. Kirshner (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics); R. C. Wolf, J. A. Fischer, J.-L. Fischer, L. Gladney, M. March, M. Sako (University of Pennsylvania); P. J. Brown, K. Krisciunas, N. Suntzeff (Texas A&M University); C. D'Andrea, R. Nichol, A. Papadopoulos (University of Portsmouth); M. Smith, M. Sullivan (University of Southampton); R. Maartens (University of the Western Cape); R. Gupta, E. Kovacs, S. Kuhlmann, H. Spinka (Argonne National Laboratory); E. Ahn, D. A. Finley, J. Frieman, J. Marriner, W. Wester (Fermilab); G. Aldering, A. G. Kim, R. C. Thomas (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory); K. Barbary, J. S. Bloom, D. Goldstein, P. Nugent, S. Perlmutter (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory + University of California, Berkeley); F. J. Castander (ICE, IEEC/CSIC, Barcelona); S. Desai, K. Paech (Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich); R. C. Smith (NOAO/CTIO); M. Schubnell (University of Michigan); R. Kessler, D. Scolnic (University of Chicago); R. A. Covarrubias (University of Illinois / NCSA); M. J. Jarvis (University of Oxford)
on 5 Jan 2015; 22:03 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Transients
Credential Certification: Ryan Foley (rfoley@illinois.edu)

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We report the detection of a nuclear transient, DES14C1kia, discovered on 11 November 2014 at r = 22.2 mag by the Dark Energy Survey. This source rose for approximately 7 weeks before recently reaching a peak brightness. During this time, the transient's colors have remained constant and blue. Spectroscopic observations obtained with the Magellan Baade telescope (+IMACS) on 19 December 2014 show a spectrum that is a composite of an elliptical galaxy spectrum at z = 0.162 and a hot blackbody. Superimposed on the continuum are two broad (~200 A) emission features coincident with He II 4686 and He I 5876 at the redshift of the host galaxy. There is no indication of narrow emission lines from the host galaxy, further indicating a passive host galaxy. Based on all current information, we conclude that DES14C1kia is most likely a tidal disruption event. The source is currently r = 21.1 mag. Further multi-wavelength observations, especially at X-ray, UV, and radio wavelengths are highly encouraged. Additional discovery information is listed below.

 
Name       |  RA (J2000) |  Dec (J2000) | Disc.       |Disc.  | Spectrum      |Redshift|Type    | 
                                       | Date (UT)   |Mag (r)| Date (UT)     |        |        |  
DES14C1kia | 03:34:47.49 | -26:19:35.0  | 2014 Nov 11 | 22.2  | 2014 Dec 19   | 0.162  |TDE  |