The Einstein Probe transient EP240414a: Linking Fast X-ray Transients, Gamma-ray Bursts and Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transients

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery and detailed multi-wavelength analysis of a fast X-ray transient, EP240414a, linking it to massive star explosions and suggesting a common progenitor with gamma-ray bursts and luminous fast blue optical transients.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed multi-wavelength follow-up of an FXT without gamma-ray detection, proposing a connection between FXTs, long-GRBs, and LFBOTs through a massive star progenitor.

Findings

FXT EP240414a is associated with a massive star explosion.

The optical spectrum evolves into a broad-lined Type Ic supernova.

The transient shows multiple emission episodes over days.

Abstract

Detections of fast X-ray transients (FXTs) have been accrued over the last few decades. However, their origin has remained mysterious. There is now rapid progress thanks to timely discoveries and localisations with the Einstein Probe mission. Early results indicate that FXTs may frequently, but not always, be associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Here, we report on the multi-wavelength counterpart of FXT EP240414a, which has no reported gamma-ray counterpart. The transient is located 25.7~kpc in projection from a massive galaxy at $z=0.40$. We perform comprehensive photometric and spectroscopic follow-up. The optical light curve shows at least three distinct emission episodes with timescales of $\sim 1, 4$ and 15 days and peak absolute magnitudes of $M_R \sim -20$, $-21$, and $-19.5$, respectively. The optical spectrum at early times is extremely blue, inconsistent with afterglow emission. It may arise from the interaction of both jet and supernova shock waves with the stellar envelope and a dense circumstellar medium, as has been suggested for some Fast Blue Optical Transients (LFBOTs). At late times, the spectrum evolves to a broad-lined~Type~Ic supernova, similar to those seen in collapsar long-GRBs. This implies that the progenitor of EP240414a is a massive star creating a jet-forming supernova inside a dense envelope, resulting in an X-ray outburst with a luminosity of $\sim 10^{48}$ erg s$^{-1}$, and the complex observed optical/IR light curves. If correct, this argues for a causal link between the progenitors of long-GRBs, FXTs and LFBOTs.