The variability of the X-Ray spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN) usually includes a change of the spectral slope. This has been investigated for a small sample of local AGNs by Sobolewska and Papadakis [1], who found that slope variations are well correlated with flux variations, and that the spectra are typically steeper in the bright phase (softer when brighter behaviour). Not much information is available for the spectral variability of high-luminosity AGNs and quasars. In order to investigate this phenomenon, we use data from the XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue, Data Release 5, which contains X- Ray observations for a large number of active galactic nuclei in a wide luminosity and redshift range, for several different epochs. This allows to perform an ensemble analysis of the spectral variability for a large sample of quasars. We quantify the spectral variability through the spectral variability parameter β, defined by Trevese and Vagnetti [2] as the ratio between the change in spectral slope and the corresponding logarithmic flux variation. We find that the spectral variability of quasars has a softer when brighter behaviour, similarly to local AGNs.

Serafinelli, R., Vagnetti, F., Middei, R. (2016). Ensemble spectral variability study of Active Galactic Nuclei from the XMM-Newton serendipitous source catalogue. ??????? it.cilea.surplus.oa.citation.tipologie.CitationProceedings.prensentedAt ??????? 6th Young Researcher Meeting, L'Aquila [10.1088/1742-6596/689/1/012007].

Ensemble spectral variability study of Active Galactic Nuclei from the XMM-Newton serendipitous source catalogue

VAGNETTI, FAUSTO;
2016-01-01

Abstract

The variability of the X-Ray spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN) usually includes a change of the spectral slope. This has been investigated for a small sample of local AGNs by Sobolewska and Papadakis [1], who found that slope variations are well correlated with flux variations, and that the spectra are typically steeper in the bright phase (softer when brighter behaviour). Not much information is available for the spectral variability of high-luminosity AGNs and quasars. In order to investigate this phenomenon, we use data from the XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue, Data Release 5, which contains X- Ray observations for a large number of active galactic nuclei in a wide luminosity and redshift range, for several different epochs. This allows to perform an ensemble analysis of the spectral variability for a large sample of quasars. We quantify the spectral variability through the spectral variability parameter β, defined by Trevese and Vagnetti [2] as the ratio between the change in spectral slope and the corresponding logarithmic flux variation. We find that the spectral variability of quasars has a softer when brighter behaviour, similarly to local AGNs.
6th Young Researcher Meeting
L'Aquila
Rilevanza internazionale
contributo
2016
Settore FIS/05 - ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICA
English
Intervento a convegno
Serafinelli, R., Vagnetti, F., Middei, R. (2016). Ensemble spectral variability study of Active Galactic Nuclei from the XMM-Newton serendipitous source catalogue. ??????? it.cilea.surplus.oa.citation.tipologie.CitationProceedings.prensentedAt ??????? 6th Young Researcher Meeting, L'Aquila [10.1088/1742-6596/689/1/012007].
Serafinelli, R; Vagnetti, F; Middei, R
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/144027
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact