2006/12/30 by C. M. Gaskell, C. Martin Gaskell, Gaskell, C. Martin
Chemical Engineering · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Analytical Chemistry and Sensors #Optical Polarization and Ellipsometry #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0701008
7 pages, 5 figures. In "AGN Variability from X-rays to Radio Waves", ed. C. M. Gaskell, I. M. McHardy, B. M. Peterson, and S. G. Sergeev
arxiv created 2006/12/30 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
I present new comparisons of AGN optical, UV, and X-ray variations. These reveal complex relationships between the different passbands that can change with time in a given object. While there is evidence from several objects that X-ray and optical activity levels are correlated on long timescales, variations on shorter timescales can occur independently. It is proposed that the combination of correlated and uncorrelated short-timescale variability is a consequence of anisotropic high-energy emission. It is also argued that the correlation between X-ray and optical variability on long timescales must be due to a common underlying factor and not to reprocessing of X-ray radiation.