An elliptical accretion disk following the tidal disruption event AT 2020zso

Understand

[Abridged] We classify AT 2020zso as a TDE based on the blackbody evolution inferred from UV/optical photometric observations, and spectral line content and evolution.

• We identify transient, double-peaked Bowen (N III), He I, He II and Halpha emission lines.
• We model medium resolution optical spectroscopy of the He II (after careful deblending of the N III contribution) and Halpha lines during the rise, peak and early decline of the light curve using relativistic, elliptical accretion disk models.
• We find that the spectral evolution before peak can be explained by optical depth effects consistent with an outflowing, optically thick Eddington envelope.