AT 2020afhd was classified as a tidal disruption event (TDE) at z=0.024 on 2024 Feb 3 by Hammerstein et al. 2024 (AstroNote 2024-37) using a SEDM spectrum obtained on 2024 Jan 5 at the Palomar 60-inch Telescope.
We obtained a Floyds spectrum with the Las Cumbres Observatory Faulkes Telescope South at Siding Spring Observatory on 2024 Feb 13. Our spectrum, which is available on the TNS, shows strong Balmer emission lines and an emission feature around He II 4686A, on top of a blue continuum.
While tidal disruption events (TDEs) also show blue conitnua and He II 4686A emission (e.g. Gezari et al. 2012, Nature, 485, 217; Arcavi et al. 2012, ApJ, 793, 38), the width of the He II feature in AT 2020afhd, as well as the strength and width of the Balmer emission lines, are much more consistent with those seen in the class of Bowen Fluorescence Flares (BFFs) identified by Trakhtenbrot et al. 2019 (Nature Astronomy, 3, 242). We thus re-classify AT 2020afhd as a BFF. This class of events may be related to accretion flares in pre-existing AGN disks (e.g. Makrygianni et al. 2023, ApJ 953, 32).
We also find a better match to the Balmer emission lines using a redshift of z=0.027 compared to z=0.024.
| Catalog | Name | Reported RA | Reported DEC | Reported Obj-Type | Reported Redshift | Host Name | Host Redshift | Remarks | TNS RA | TNS DEC | TNS Obj-Type | TNS Redshift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TNS | 2020afhd [ZTF20abwtifz] | 03:13:35.667 | -02:09:06.21 | Other | 0.027 | 03:13:35.700 | -02:09:06.37 | TDE | 0.027 |
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