DOI

https://doi.org/10.48717/g7re-ja54

Project

RM017

Title

e-EVN: EA065F, RM017A, EC082C

Abstract

We propose to make two high-precision astrometric observations of the newly detected relativistic tidal disruption event AT2022cmc. This is the first such event detected since 2012, and would be only the second studied in detail with VLBI. Such “jetted” tidal disruption events are a rare subclass of highly-energetic tidal disruptions in which a relativistic jet is launched at a very low inclination to the line of sight. With a series of early-time VLBI observations over the first few months of the outburst, followed by more sporadic monitoring over the subsequent few years, we will be able to track the jet motions via high-precision astrometry, determining the jet speed and deceleration. These data will complement ongoing multi-radio frequency monitoring of the event, and help to break modelling degeneracies in determining the physical parameters of the jet. Coupled with approved HST observations, the earliest VLBI observation would also confirm that the event originates from the centre of its host galaxy.