Radio Properties of Tidal Disruption Events

Understand

Radio observations of tidal disruption events (TDEs) probe material ejected by the disruption of stars by supermassive black holes (SMBHs), uniquely tracing the formation and evolution of jets and outflows, revealing details of the disruption hydrodynamics, and illuminating the environments around previously-dormant SMBHs.

• To date, observations reveal a surprisingly diverse population.
• A small fraction of TDEs (at most a few percent) have been observed to produce radio-luminous mildly relativistic jets.
• The remainder of the population are radio quiet, producing less luminous jets, non-relativistic outflows or, possibly, no radio emission at all.