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A characteristic optical variability time scale in astrophysical accretion disks.

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Title: A characteristic optical variability time scale in astrophysical accretion disks.
Authors: Burke, Colin J., Shen, Yue, Blaes, Omer, Gammie, Charles F., Horne, Keith, Jiang, Yan-Fei, Liu, Xin, McHardy, Ian M., Morgan, Christopher W., Scaringi, Simone, Yang, Qian
Source: Science (pre-March 2025). 8/13/2021, Vol. 373 Issue 6556, p789-792. 4p. 1 Color Photograph, 2 Diagrams.
Subjects: Supermassive black holes, Black holes, Optical wavelength conversion, Compact objects (Astronomy), Accretion (Astrophysics)
Abstract: Accretion disks around supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei produce continuum radiation at ultraviolet and optical wavelengths. Physical processes in the accretion flow lead to stochastic variability of this emission on a wide range of time scales. We measured the optical continuum variability observed in 67 active galactic nuclei and the characteristic time scale at which the variability power spectrum flattens. We found a correlation between this time scale and the black hole mass extending over the entire mass range of supermassive black holes. This time scale is consistent with the expected thermal time scale at the ultraviolet-emitting radius in standard accretion disk theory. Accreting white dwarfs lie close to this correlation, suggesting a common process for all accretion disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Science (pre-March 2025) is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 151971368
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: A characteristic optical variability time scale in astrophysical accretion disks.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burke%2C+Colin+J%2E%22">Burke, Colin J.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shen%2C+Yue%22">Shen, Yue</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Blaes%2C+Omer%22">Blaes, Omer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gammie%2C+Charles+F%2E%22">Gammie, Charles F.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Horne%2C+Keith%22">Horne, Keith</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiang%2C+Yan-Fei%22">Jiang, Yan-Fei</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liu%2C+Xin%22">Liu, Xin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McHardy%2C+Ian+M%2E%22">McHardy, Ian M.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Morgan%2C+Christopher+W%2E%22">Morgan, Christopher W.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Scaringi%2C+Simone%22">Scaringi, Simone</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Qian%22">Yang, Qian</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science+%28pre-March+2025%29%22">Science (pre-March 2025)</searchLink>. 8/13/2021, Vol. 373 Issue 6556, p789-792. 4p. 1 Color Photograph, 2 Diagrams.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Supermassive+black+holes%22">Supermassive black holes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Black+holes%22">Black holes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Optical+wavelength+conversion%22">Optical wavelength conversion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Compact+objects+%28Astronomy%29%22">Compact objects (Astronomy)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accretion+%28Astrophysics%29%22">Accretion (Astrophysics)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Accretion disks around supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei produce continuum radiation at ultraviolet and optical wavelengths. Physical processes in the accretion flow lead to stochastic variability of this emission on a wide range of time scales. We measured the optical continuum variability observed in 67 active galactic nuclei and the characteristic time scale at which the variability power spectrum flattens. We found a correlation between this time scale and the black hole mass extending over the entire mass range of supermassive black holes. This time scale is consistent with the expected thermal time scale at the ultraviolet-emitting radius in standard accretion disk theory. Accreting white dwarfs lie close to this correlation, suggesting a common process for all accretion disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Science (pre-March 2025) is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=151971368
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        Value: 10.1126/science.abg9933
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Black holes
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      – SubjectFull: Optical wavelength conversion
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              M: 08
              Text: 8/13/2021
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              Y: 2021
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