CRA Seminar: Dr. Edwin Chan (CRA)

Title: Tidal disruption events in active galactic nuclei
Abstract: A fraction of tidal disruption events (TDEs) occur in active galactic nuclei (AGNs); distinguishing TDE flares in these hosts from common AGN variability is an unsolved challenge. We took the first step toward characterizing the appearance of TDEs in AGNs with the help of hydrodynamic simulations. The AGN accretion disk does not hinder the initial disruption, but its subsequent interaction with the tidal debris dictates the electromagnetic output of the event. I will present our predictions of the possible observational signatures, from the optical to soft gamma rays. TDEs in AGNs emphatically resemble neither TDEs nor AGNs; therefore, current observational strategies may miss these events altogether.