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PS1-13cbe: The rapid transition of a Seyfert 2 to a Seyfert 1

Publication ,  Journal Article
Katebi, R; Chornock, R; Berger, E; Jones, DO; Lunnan, R; Margutti, R; Rest, A; Scolnic, DM; Burgett, WS; Kaiser, N; Kudritzki, RP; Magnier, EA ...
Published in: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
August 11, 2019

We present a nuclear transient event, PS1-13cbe, that was first discovered in the Pan-STARRS1 survey in 2013. The outburst occurred in the nucleus of the galaxy SDSS J222153.87+003054.2 at z = 0.123 55, which was classified as a Seyfert 2 in a pre-outburst archival Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectrum. PS1-13cbe showed the appearance of strong broad H α and H β emission lines and a non-stellar continuum in a Magellan spectrum taken 57 d after the peak of the outburst that resembled the characteristics of a Seyfert 1. These broad lines were not present in the SDSS spectrum taken a decade earlier and faded away within 2 yr, as observed in several late-time MDM spectra. We argue that the dramatic appearance and disappearance of the broad lines and a factor of ∼8 increase in the optical continuum are most likely caused by variability in the pre-existing accretion disc than a tidal disruption event, supernova, or variable obscuration. The time-scale for the turn-on of the optical emission of ∼70 d observed in this transient is among the shortest observed in a 'changing-look' active galactic nucleus.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI

EISSN

1365-2966

ISSN

0035-8711

Publication Date

August 11, 2019

Volume

487

Issue

3

Start / End Page

4057 / 4070

Related Subject Headings

  • Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • 5109 Space sciences
  • 5107 Particle and high energy physics
  • 5101 Astronomical sciences
  • 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences
 

Citation

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Katebi, R., Chornock, R., Berger, E., Jones, D. O., Lunnan, R., Margutti, R., … Waters, C. (2019). PS1-13cbe: The rapid transition of a Seyfert 2 to a Seyfert 1. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 487(3), 4057–4070. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz1552
Katebi, R., R. Chornock, E. Berger, D. O. Jones, R. Lunnan, R. Margutti, A. Rest, et al. “PS1-13cbe: The rapid transition of a Seyfert 2 to a Seyfert 1.” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 487, no. 3 (August 11, 2019): 4057–70. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz1552.
Katebi R, Chornock R, Berger E, Jones DO, Lunnan R, Margutti R, et al. PS1-13cbe: The rapid transition of a Seyfert 2 to a Seyfert 1. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 2019 Aug 11;487(3):4057–70.
Katebi, R., et al. “PS1-13cbe: The rapid transition of a Seyfert 2 to a Seyfert 1.” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 487, no. 3, Aug. 2019, pp. 4057–70. Scopus, doi:10.1093/mnras/stz1552.
Katebi R, Chornock R, Berger E, Jones DO, Lunnan R, Margutti R, Rest A, Scolnic DM, Burgett WS, Kaiser N, Kudritzki RP, Magnier EA, Wainscoat RJ, Waters C. PS1-13cbe: The rapid transition of a Seyfert 2 to a Seyfert 1. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 2019 Aug 11;487(3):4057–4070.
Journal cover image

Published In

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI

EISSN

1365-2966

ISSN

0035-8711

Publication Date

August 11, 2019

Volume

487

Issue

3

Start / End Page

4057 / 4070

Related Subject Headings

  • Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • 5109 Space sciences
  • 5107 Particle and high energy physics
  • 5101 Astronomical sciences
  • 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences