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A Search for Short Timescale Microvariability in Active Galactic Nuclei in the UltravioletWe observed four AGNs (the type-1 Seyfert systems 3C249.1, NGC 6814 and Mrk 205, and the BL Lac object 3C371) using the High Speed Photometer on the Hubble Space Telescope to search for short timescale microvariability in the W. Continuous observations of 3 0 0 0 s duration were obtained for each system on several consecutive HST orbits using a 1 s sample time in a 1400 - 3000 2 bandpass. variability > 0.3 % (0 . 003 mag) was detected in any AGN on timescales shorter than 1500 s. The distribution of photon arrival times observed from each source was consistent with Poisson statistics. Because of HST optical problems, the limit on photometric variability at longer timescales is less precise. These results restrict models of supermassive black holes as the central engine of an AGN and the diskoseismology oscillations of any accretion disk around such a black hole.
Document ID
20040013419
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Dolan, Joseph F. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Clark, L. Lee (San Diego State Univ. San Diego, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Astronomy
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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