Kepler Observations of Rapid Optical Variability in Active Galactic Nuclei
- Author:
- Baumgartner, W. H.
- Published:
- [2012].
- Physical Description:
- 1 electronic document
- Additional Creators:
- Mushotzky, R. F.
Edelson, R.
Gandhi, P. - Access Online:
- hdl.handle.net
- Restrictions on Access:
- Unclassified, Unlimited, Publicly available.
- Summary:
- Over three quarters in 2010 - 2011, Kepler monitored optical emission from four active galactic nuclei (AGN) with approx 30 min sampling, > 90% duty cycle and approx < 0.1% repeatability. These data determined the AGN optical fluctuation power spectral density functions (PSDs) over a wide range in temporal frequency. Fits to these PSDs yielded power law slopes of -2.6 to -3.3, much steeper than typically seen in the X-rays. We find evidence that individual AGN exhibit intrinsically different PSD slopes. The steep PSD fits are a challenge to recent AGN variability models but seem consistent with first order MRI theoretical calculations of accretion disk fluctuations.
- Collection:
- NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) Collection.
- Note:
- Document ID: 20120013038.
GSFC.JA.6288.2012. - Terms of Use and Reproduction:
- Copyright, Distribution under U.S. Government purpose rights.
- Access Online:
- hdl.handle.net
View MARC record | catkey: 15978415