SDSS J0159 as an outlier in the MBH–σ space: further clues to support a central tidal disruption event?

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this Letter, properties of black hole (BH) mass are well checked for the interesting object SDSS J0159, a changing-look active galactic nuclei and also a host galaxy of a tidal disruption event (TDE). Through spectral absorption features, the stellar velocity dispersion of SDSS J0159 can be well measured as $\sigma \sim 81~{\rm km\, s}^{-1}$, leading to SDSS J0159 being an apparent outlier in the MBH–σ space, because of the BH mass estimated through the MBH–σ relation about two magnitudes lower than the reported virial BH mass of about 108 M⊙. After considerations of contributions of stellar debris from the central TDE to broad line emission clouds, the overestimated virial BH mass could be well explained in SDSS J0159. Therefore, overestimated virial BH masses through broad-line properties in the MBH–σ space could be treated as interesting clues to support central TDEs.