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arXiv 0912.0544astro-ph.GAastro-ph.CO
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塞弗特星系NGC 4051中X射线和光学变化的十二年

Twelve years of X-ray and optical variability in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4051

E. Breedt, I. M. McHardy, P. Arevalo, P. Uttley, S. G. Sergeev, T. Minezaki, Y. Yoshii, Y. Sakata, P. Lira, N. G. Chesnok

摘要:

本文讨论了窄线塞弗特1星系NGC 4051的光学变化的起源,并给出了用X射线和光学光变曲线进行的交叉相关研究的结果。发射是高度可变的,在所有波段,和光学变化的幅度被发现是小于X射线,即使在校正后的污染主机星系通量落在测光光圈。光功率谱最好由斜率为$α=1.4^{+0.6}_{-0.2}$的完整幂律模型描述,并且在探测的所有时间尺度上显示出比2-10 keV X射线更低的可变性功率。我们发现光变曲线在X射线之后的$1.2^{+1.0}_{-0.3}$天的光学延迟处显著相关。这一时间尺度与光到达吸积盘光学发射区的时间一致,表明光学变化是由X射线再处理驱动的。然而,我们表明,一个模型,即光学变化所产生的再处理由一个平坦的吸积盘不能占所有的光学可变性。在互相关联函数中还存在第二个显著峰值,其光学延迟为$39^{+2.7}_{-8.4}$天.滞后是一致的尘埃升华半径在这个源,这表明有一个可测量的量的光通量来自尘埃环。我们讨论了额外的光通量的起源方面的再处理的X射线和反射的可见光的尘埃。

英文摘要:

We discuss the origin of the optical variations in the Narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051 and present the results of a cross-correlation study using X-ray and optical light curves spanning more than 12 years. The emission is highly variable in all wavebands, and the amplitude of the optical variations is found to be smaller than that of the X-rays, even after correcting for the contaminating host galaxy flux falling inside the photometric aperture. The optical power spectrum is best described by an unbroken power law model with slope $α=1.4^{+0.6}_{-0.2}$ and displays lower variability power than the 2-10 keV X-rays on all time-scales probed. We find the light curves to be significantly correlated at an optical delay of $1.2^{+1.0}_{-0.3}$ days behind the X-rays. This time-scale is consistent with the light travel time to the optical emitting region of the accretion disc, suggesting that the optical variations are driven by X-ray reprocessing. We show, however, that a model whereby the optical variations arise from reprocessing by a flat accretion disc cannot account for all the optical variability. There is also a second significant peak in the cross-correlation function, at an optical delay of $39^{+2.7}_{-8.4}$ days. The lag is consistent with the dust sublimation radius in this source, suggesting that there is a measurable amount of optical flux coming from the dust torus. We discuss the origin of the additional optical flux in terms of reprocessing of X-rays and reflection of optical light by the dust.

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