Program: GS-2017A-Q-43

Stellar tidal disruption events (TDEs) are powerful probes to detect dormant supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and SMBH binaries in the center of quiescent galaxies. A few tens of events have been reported in X- ray, UV and/or optical bands. Recently, a distinct class of TDEs has been discovered: they have prominent broad optical hydrogen and/or helium emission lines, and are preferentially hosted by post-starburst galaxies, which are usually thought to be generated by galaxy mergers or interactions. This is consistent with theoretical predictions that the TDE rate is significantly enhanced by SMBH binaries and/or galaxy-galaxy interactions. We propose to test this idea, by obtaining deep optical images and IFU data with GMOS-N, in order to find the direct signature of merging in TDE host galaxies. This experiment will enable us to determine the mechanism to enhance the TDE rate.