Kavli Affiliate: Fukun Liu
| Summary:
We present a multi-epoch study of the extreme X-ray variability of the type~1 quasar SDSS~J000532.84+200717.4 using archival observations from textitXMM-Newton, textitSwift/XRT, textitEP-FXT, and textitROSAT, together with new optical spectroscopy and multi-wavelength photometry. The 0.2–10~keV X-ray flux exhibits a transition from a high state to a subsequent low state, declining by more than an order of magnitude and placing the source in the X-ray–weak regime ($Δα_rm ox lesssim -0.3$). Significant variability on timescales of days to weeks persists within the low state. In contrast, the optical and mid-infrared emission remain stable over decade-long timescales, while the UV continuum varies only mildly and broadly tracks the X-ray evolution. Multi-epoch optical spectroscopy shows no significant long-term changes in either the continuum shape or the broad emission-line profiles. The ionMg2 emission is relatively weak compared with typical quasars, suggesting similarities to weak-line quasars. The pronounced wavelength-dependent variability indicates that the accretion disk remains largely intact while the X-ray emission undergoes dramatic changes. The spectral hardening in the low state and the viability of ionized partial-covering models are consistent with variable, largely dust-free absorbing gas, possibly associated with clumpy inner disk winds, although intrinsic coronal variations cannot be excluded. SDSS~J0005+200717.4 therefore provides evidence that extreme X-ray weakness can arise as a transient phase in otherwise normal quasars.
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