Quasiperiodic Eruptions from Recurrent Satellite Black Hole Transits through Magnetized Galactic Nucleus Accretion Disks
- 1Xiamen University
- 2Chinese Academy of Sciences
Abstract
Quasiperiodic eruptions (QPEs) are recurrent soft X-ray flares from galactic nuclei, but their origin remains uncertain. The delayed ultraviolet (UV) counterpart detected in ZTF19acnskyy provides a new constraint on viable models. We present a two-channel model in which a satellite black hole (sBH) repeatedly crosses a nuclear accretion disk threaded by a large-scale magnetic field. Gravitational focusing and dynamical drag generate hot, optically thick ejecta whose expansion and photon diffusion power the soft X-ray QPE. For fiducial Bondi-scale parameters, the model yields a characteristic X-ray duration of ∼10 ³ s and luminosity of ∼10 ⁴² erg s ⁻¹ . For ZTF19acnskyy, the model reproduces the observed day-scale X-ray duration and energetics. Simultaneously, the sBH motion compresses and bends the background magnetic field, triggering in-disk reconnection. The reconnection channel provides the energy budget and photon-diffusion delay required for the variable UV component. Unfavorable magnetic fields or diffusion times longer than the QPE recurrence period can weaken or smear out the UV signal, potentially explaining the lack of clear UV counterparts in other QPE sources.
Related
- Secular Evolution of Quasiperiodic Eruptions: eRO-QPE2
- Star–Disk Collisions. II. Debris Stream Dynamics and Implications for Quasiperiodic Eruptions and Other Transients Near Supermassive Black Holes
- Magnetized Accretion Flows with Low Angular Momentum Around Supermassive Black Holes
- Strong Black Hole Natal Kicks in Magnetized Accretion-Powered Explosions
- Shock-free super-Eddington accretion onto magnetized neutron star
BibTeX
@article{wang2026quasiperiodic,
title = {{Quasiperiodic Eruptions from Recurrent Satellite Black Hole Transits through Magnetized Galactic Nucleus Accretion Disks}},
author = {Na Wang and Jing-Tong Xing and Tong Liu and Ya-Ping Li and Shuang-Liang Li},
journal = {The Astrophysical Journal Letters},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3847/2041-8213/aea98f},
url = {https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/aea98f},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Quasiperiodic Eruptions from Recurrent Satellite Black Hole Transits through Magnetized Galactic Nucleus Accretion Disks
AU - Na Wang
AU - Jing-Tong Xing
AU - Tong Liu
AU - Ya-Ping Li
AU - Shuang-Liang Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - The Astrophysical Journal Letters
DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/aea98f
UR - https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/aea98f
AB - Quasiperiodic eruptions (QPEs) are recurrent soft X-ray flares from galactic nuclei, but their origin remains uncertain. The delayed ultraviolet (UV) counterpart detected in ZTF19acnskyy provides a new constraint on viable models. We present a two-channel model in which a satellite black hole (sBH) repeatedly crosses a nuclear accretion disk threaded by a large-scale magnetic field. Gravitational focusing and dynamical drag generate hot, optically thick ejecta whose expansion and photon diffusion power the soft X-ray QPE. For fiducial Bondi-scale parameters, the model yields a characteristic X-ray duration of ∼10 ³ s and luminosity of ∼10 ⁴² erg s ⁻¹ . For ZTF19acnskyy, the model reproduces the observed day-scale X-ray duration and energetics. Simultaneously, the sBH motion compresses and bends the background magnetic field, triggering in-disk reconnection. The reconnection channel provides the energy budget and photon-diffusion delay required for the variable UV component. Unfavorable magnetic fields or diffusion times longer than the QPE recurrence period can weaken or smear out the UV signal, potentially explaining the lack of clear UV counterparts in other QPE sources.
SN - 2041-8205
SN - 2041-8213
ER -