Date Presented:

2012/12/1

Abstract:

We found that the nova candidate J004457.9+412344 is a radio-quiet quasar at z ∼ 2. Its optical long-term light curve, covering more than half a century, shows quasar typical flux variations superimposed by a spectacular single flare lasting more than one year (observer frame). We could not find comparable light curves among the several thousand catalogued radio-quiet quasars in the stripe 82 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The decreasing part of the flare light curve roughly follows a power law t^-5/3. The quasar spectrum, the total energy of the flare, and the decline of the light curve are consistent with the tidal disruption of a ∼10 M_ʘ giant star by a supermassive black hole of a few 10⁸ M_ʘ. We argue that the alternative explanation by gravitational microlensing is less likely, though it cannot be definitely excluded.

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