The X-ray and Radio Loud Fast Blue Optical Transient AT2020mrf: Implications for an Emerging Class of Engine-Driven Massive Star Explosions

TL;DR

This paper reports on AT2020mrf, a fast blue optical transient with strong X-ray and radio emissions, suggesting an engine-driven explosion in a dwarf galaxy, similar to AT2018cow but with higher luminosities and variability.

Contribution

It presents detailed multi-wavelength observations of AT2020mrf, demonstrating it as a member of the emerging class of engine-driven FBOTs with extreme X-ray luminosity and host galaxy characteristics.

Findings

AT2020mrf shows the highest X-ray luminosity among FBOTs.

Radio emission is consistent with a dense environment interaction.

The event likely powered by a millisecond magnetar or black hole.

Abstract

We present AT2020mrf (SRGe J154754.2$+$443907), an extra-galactic ($z=0.1353$) fast blue optical transient (FBOT) with a rise time of $t_{g,\rm rise}=3.7$ days and a peak luminosity of $M_{g,\rm peak}=-20.0$. Its optical spectrum around peak shows a broad ($v\sim0.1c$) emission feature on a blue continuum ($T\sim2\times10^4$ K), which bears a striking resemblance to AT2018cow. Its bright radio emission ($\nu L_\nu = 1.2\times 10^{39}\,{\rm erg\,s^{-1}}$; $\nu_{\rm rest}= 7.4$ GHz; 261 days) is similar to four other AT2018cow-like events, and can be explained by synchrotron radiation from the interaction between a sub-relativistic ($\gtrsim0.07$-$0.08c$) forward shock and a dense environment ($\dot M \lesssim 10^{-3}\,M_\odot \,{\rm yr^{-1}}$ for $v_{\rm w}=10^3\,{\rm km\,s^{-1}}$). AT2020mrf occurs in a galaxy with $M_\ast \sim 10^8\,M_\odot$ and specific star formation rate $\sim 10^{-10}\, {\rm yr^{-1}}$, supporting the idea that AT2018cow-like events are preferentially hosted by dwarf galaxies. The X-ray luminosity of AT2020mrf is the highest among FBOTs. At 35-37 days, SRG/eROSITA detected luminous ($L_{\rm X}\sim 2\times 10^{43}\,{\rm erg\,s^{-1}}$; 0.3-10 keV) X-ray emission. The X-ray spectral shape ($f_\nu \propto \nu^{-0.8}$) and erratic intraday variability are reminiscent of AT2018cow, but the luminosity is a factor of $\sim20$ greater than AT2018cow. At 328 days, Chandra detected it at $L_{\rm X}\sim10^{42}\,{\rm erg\,s^{-1}}$, which is $>200$ times more luminous than AT2018cow and CSS161010. At the same time, the X-ray emission remains variable on the timescale of $\sim1$ day. We show that a central engine, probably a millisecond magnetar or an accreting black hole, is required to power the explosion. We predict the rates at which events like AT2018cow and AT2020mrf will be detected by SRG and Einstein Probe.