Astronomers Confirm Record-Breaking Tidal Disruption Event: AT2024wpp, Nicknamed 'Whippet'

The astronomical community has officially verified one of the most powerful cosmic outbursts ever recorded, designated AT2024wpp and informally dubbed 'Whippet.' This Tidal Disruption Event (TDE) occurred in 2024 when a supermassive black hole violently tore apart a massive star. The resulting cataclysm released an astonishing amount of energy, equivalent to the luminosity of 400 billion Suns. Details confirming this monumental event have been accepted for publication in the esteemed journal, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Tidal Disruption Events are triggered when a star wanders too close to a supermassive black hole, crossing a critical boundary. The immense tidal forces stretch the star, drawing its material into a stream that subsequently forms a superheated accretion disk around the black hole. The key metrics associated with 'Whippet' are staggering. Its energy output significantly surpasses that of any known supernova explosion. Furthermore, the event generated a shockwave propagating outward at roughly 20 percent the speed of light, translating to approximately 215 million kilometers per hour.

Scientists estimate that the star annihilated in this process possessed a mass potentially 30 times that of our Sun, suggesting it was likely a Wolf-Rayet type star. The collaborative research effort involved key figures such as Daniel Perley from Liverpool John Moores University. Crucial observational data was gathered using the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), NASA’s Swift satellite, and the Liverpool Telescope situated in the Canary Islands. TDEs are invaluable for uncovering the physics governing black holes, particularly the processes driving their growth.

The study indicates that the stellar debris was stretched into what is often colorfully described as 'spaghetti.' Due to its exceptionally high temperature and potent X-ray emissions, this event is classified as a probable member of the Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (LFBOT) class. This classification sets it apart from the prototype event, AT 2018cow, highlighting 'Whippet's' extraordinary nature compared to other transients.

Researchers, including Anna Ho from Cornell University, noted that the energy radiated within the initial 45 days alone exceeded the total energy output of a typical supernova by a factor of 100. Subsequent analysis, conducted using the Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, reinforced the conclusion that LFBOTs are powered by extreme tidal disruption rather than conventional supernova mechanisms. This finding presents a significant challenge to current theoretical models describing black hole physics. Intriguing scientific puzzles remain, such as the detection of helium ejecting from the blast site at 21 million km/h, alongside faint traces of hydrogen and helium in the spectra recorded 35 days post-event. Located 1.1 billion light-years away, this event offers an unparalleled window into black hole accretion processes that are usually hidden, as the black hole itself was likely dormant prior to this spectacular disruption.