Nonlinear Time Series Analysis of BL Lac Light Curves

In this work the time properties of the BL Lac objects are elaborated in a detailed manner through linear and nonlinear time series analysis methods. In spite of the large amount of available data in the last 20 years, the variability studies have not provided major progress for understanding the behavior of these objects. Vague time series analysis methods, lacking any mathematical foundation, are usually invoked revealing erroneous time properties in the data sets which then act misleadingly for modeling the dynamics of the system under study. The flaws of some of the current time series analysis methods are reviewed thoroughly throughout this work for specific sources (Mrk 421, Mrk 501) and the need of employing higher order time series analysis methods is demonstrated. An extensive description of the modern nonlinear analysis methods is presented together with examples being implemented in a way to be applicable to astronomical time series. Then, these methods are applied to the X-ray data set of Mrk 421, obtained by RXTE, covering a time period of 9 years, giving some hints to answer the question: Is it possible to explain the variability behavior of these sources based on few physical parameters (deterministic system), or is it the result of numerous components yielding from a stochastic system? Finally the results from the longest multiwavelength campaign, conducted during August--September 2004, for the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 are presented. The source was observed in the very high energy gamma-rays (>100 GeV) by H.E.S.S., in the X-rays (2-10 keV) by RXTE and in the optical (R-band) by three terrestrial observatories

Signatures of X-ray reverberation in the power spectra of AGN

Aims: we study the effects of X-ray reprocessing in the power spectra (PSDs) of active galactic nuclei (AGNs).Methods: we compute fully relativistic disc response functions in the case of lamp-post geometry using the full observed reflection spectrum for various X-ray source heights, disc inclination, and spin values of the central black hole. Since the observed PSD is equal to the product of the intrinsic power spectrum with the transfer function (i.e. the Fourier transform of the disc response function), we are able to predict the observed PSDs in the case of X-ray illumination of the inner disc.Results: the observed PSD should show a prominent dip at high frequencies and an oscillatory behaviour with a decreasing amplitude at higher frequencies. The reverberation echo features should be more prominent in energy bands where the reflection component is more pronounced. The frequency of the dip is independent of energy, and it is mainly determined by the black hole mass and the X-ray source height. The amplitude of the dip increases with increasing black hole spin and inclination angle, as long as the height of the lamp is smaller than ~10 gravitational radii.Conclusions: the detection of the X-ray reverberation signals in the PSDs can provide further evidence for X-ray illumination of the inner disc in AGN. Our results are largely independent of the assumed geometry of the disc-corona system, as long as it does not change with time, and the disc response function is characterized by a sharp rise, a plateau, and a decline at longer times. Irrespective of the geometry, the frequency of the main dip should decrease with increasing mean time of the response function, and the amplitude of the dip should increase with increasing reflection fractio

The absence of a thin disc in M81

We present the results of simultaneous Suzaku and NuSTAR observations of the nearest low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (LLAGN), M81*. The spectrum is well described by a cut-off power law plus narrow emission lines from Fe K α, Fe  xxv, and Fe  xxvi. There is no evidence of Compton reflection from an optically thick disc, and we obtain the strongest constraint on the reflection fraction in M81* to date, with a best-fitting value of R = 0.0 with an upper limit of R < 0.1. The Fe K α line may be produced in optically thin, NH=1×1023cm−2 , gas located in the equatorial plane that could be the broad line region. The ionized iron lines may originate in the hot, inner accretion flow. The X-ray continuum shows significant variability on ∼40 ks time-scales suggesting that the primary X-ray source is ∼100 s of gravitational radii in size. If this X-ray source illuminates any putative optically thick disc, the weakness of reflection implies that such a disc lies outside a few ×103 gravitational radii. An optically thin accretion flow inside a truncated optically thick disc appears to be a common feature of LLAGN that are accreting at only a tiny fraction of the Eddington limit

Swift monitoring of NGC 5548: X-ray reprocessing and short-term UV/optical variability

Lags measured from correlated X-ray/UV/optical monitoring of AGN allow us to determine whether UV/optical variability is driven by reprocessing of X-rays or X-ray variability is driven by UV/optical seed photon variations. We present the results of the largest study to date of the relationship between the X-ray, UV and optical variability in an AGN with 554 observations, over a 750 d period, of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 5548 with Swift. There is a good overall correlation between the X-ray and UV/optical bands, particularly on short time-scales (tens of days). The UV/optical bands lag the X-ray band with lags which are proportional to wavelength raised to the power 1.23 ± 0.31. This power is very close to the power (4/3) expected if short time-scale UV/optical variability is driven by reprocessing of X-rays by a surrounding accretion disc. The observed lags, however, are longer than expected from a standard Shakura–Sunyaev accretion disc with X-ray heating, given the currently accepted black hole mass and accretion rate values, but can be explained with a slightly larger mass and accretion rate, and a generally hotter disc. Some long-term UV/optical variations are not paralleled exactly in the X-rays, suggesting an additional component to the UV/optical variability arising perhaps from accretion rate perturbations propagating inwards through the disc