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Correlation and time delays of the X-ray and optical emission of the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3783
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Arévalo, P., Uttley, P., Lira, Paulina, Breedt, E., McHardy, Ian M. and Churazov, E. (2009) Correlation and time delays of the X-ray and optical emission of the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3783. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 397 (No. 4). pp. 2004-2014. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15110.x ISSN 0035-8711.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15110.x
Abstract
We present simultaneous X-ray and optical B- and V-band light curves of the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3783 spanning 2 years. The flux in all bands is highly variable and the fluctuations are significantly correlated. As shown before by Stirpe et al. the optical bands vary simultaneously, with a delay of less than 1.5 d but both B and V bands lag the X-ray fluctuations by 3–9 d. This delay points at optical variability produced by X-ray reprocessing and the value of the lag places the reprocessor close to the broad-line region. A power spectrum analysis of the light curve, however, shows that the X-ray variability has a power-law shape bending to a steeper slope at a time-scale of ∼2.9 d while the variability amplitude in the optical bands continues to grow towards the longest time-scale covered, ∼300 d. We show that the power spectra together with the small value of the time delay are inconsistent with a picture where all the optical variability is produced by X-ray reprocessing, though the small amplitude, rapid optical fluctuations might be produced in this way. We detect larger variability amplitudes on long time-scales in the optical bands than in the X-rays. This behaviour adds to similar results recently obtained for at least three other active galactic nuclei and indicates a separate source of long-term optical variability, possibly accretion rate or thermal fluctuations, in the optically emitting accretion disc.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics | ||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | ||||
| Publisher: | Wiley | ||||
| ISSN: | 0035-8711 | ||||
| Official Date: | 2009 | ||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | Vol. 397 | ||||
| Number: | No. 4 | ||||
| Page Range: | pp. 2004-2014 | ||||
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.15110.x | ||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
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