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The Einstein Probe Transient EP240414a: Linking Fast X-Ray Transients, Gamma-Ray Bursts, and Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transients
Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9010, Nijmegen, 6500 GL, The Netherlands, P.O. Box 9010.
Nordita SU; The Oskar Klein Centre, Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova, Stockholm, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2700-1030
School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; Nordic Optical Telescope, Rambla José Ana Fernández Pérez 7, ES-38711 Breña Baja, Spain, Rambla José Ana Fernández Pérez 7.
Number of Authors: 332025 (English)In: Astrophysical Journal Letters, ISSN 2041-8205, E-ISSN 2041-8213, Vol. 982, no 2, article id L47Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Detections of fast X-ray transients (FXTs) have accrued over the last few decades. However, their origin has remained mysterious. Rapid progress is now being made thanks to timely discoveries and localizations with the Einstein Probe mission. Early results indicate that FXTs may frequently, but not always, be associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Here, we report on the multiwavelength counterpart of FXT EP240414a, which has no reported gamma-ray counterpart. The transient is located 25.7 kpc in projection from a massive galaxy at z = 0.401. We perform comprehensive photometric and spectroscopic follow-up. The optical light curve shows at least three distinct emission episodes with timescales of ~1, 4, and 15 days and peak absolute magnitudes of MR ∼ −20, -21, and -19.5, respectively. The optical spectrum at early times is extremely blue, inconsistent with afterglow emission. It may arise from the interaction of both jet and supernova (SN) shock waves with the stellar envelope and a dense circumstellar medium, as has been suggested for some luminous fast blue optical transients (LFBOTs). At late times, the spectrum evolves to a broad-lined Type Ic SN, similar to those seen in collapsar long GRBs. This implies that the progenitor of EP240414a is a massive star creating a jet-forming SN inside a dense envelope, resulting in an X-ray outburst with a luminosity of ~1048 erg s−1 and the complex observed optical/IR light curves. If correct, this argues for a causal link between the progenitors of long GRBs, FXTs, and LFBOTs.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Astronomical Society , 2025. Vol. 982, no 2, article id L47
National Category
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-362520DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/adbc7eISI: 001455354000001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105001808419OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-362520DiVA, id: diva2:1952968
Note

QC 20250428

Available from: 2025-04-16 Created: 2025-04-16 Last updated: 2025-04-28Bibliographically approved

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