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Hauptverfasser: Rani, B., Kim, Jungeun, Papadakis, I., Gendreau, K. C., Masterson, M., Hamaguchi, K., Kara, E., Lee, S. -S., Mushotzky, R.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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Online-Zugang:https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.13049
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author Rani, B.
Kim, Jungeun
Papadakis, I.
Gendreau, K. C.
Masterson, M.
Hamaguchi, K.
Kara, E.
Lee, S. -S.
Mushotzky, R.
author_facet Rani, B.
Kim, Jungeun
Papadakis, I.
Gendreau, K. C.
Masterson, M.
Hamaguchi, K.
Kara, E.
Lee, S. -S.
Mushotzky, R.
contents Variability studies offer a compelling glimpse into black hole dynamics, and NICER's (Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer) remarkable temporal resolution propels us even further. NICER observations of an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN), NGC 4051, have charted the geometry of the emission region of the central supermassive black hole. Our investigation of X-ray variability in NGC 4051 has detected extreme variations spanning a factor of 40 to 50 over a mere 10 to 12 hours. For the first time, we have constrained the X-ray Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the source to 0.1 Hz, corresponding to a temporal frequency of 10,000 Hz in a galactic X-ray binary (GXRB) with a mass of 10 M_{\odot}. No extra high-frequency break/bend or any quasi-periodic oscillations are found. Through detailed analysis of energy-dependent PSDs, we found that the PSD normalization, the high-frequency PSD slope as well as the bending frequency remains consistent across all energies within the 0.3-3 keV band, revealing the presence of a constant temperature corona. These significant findings impose critical constraints on current models of X-ray emission and variability in AGN.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_13049
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle High-Frequency Power Spectrum of AGN NGC 4051 Revealed by NICER
Rani, B.
Kim, Jungeun
Papadakis, I.
Gendreau, K. C.
Masterson, M.
Hamaguchi, K.
Kara, E.
Lee, S. -S.
Mushotzky, R.
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Variability studies offer a compelling glimpse into black hole dynamics, and NICER's (Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer) remarkable temporal resolution propels us even further. NICER observations of an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN), NGC 4051, have charted the geometry of the emission region of the central supermassive black hole. Our investigation of X-ray variability in NGC 4051 has detected extreme variations spanning a factor of 40 to 50 over a mere 10 to 12 hours. For the first time, we have constrained the X-ray Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the source to 0.1 Hz, corresponding to a temporal frequency of 10,000 Hz in a galactic X-ray binary (GXRB) with a mass of 10 M_{\odot}. No extra high-frequency break/bend or any quasi-periodic oscillations are found. Through detailed analysis of energy-dependent PSDs, we found that the PSD normalization, the high-frequency PSD slope as well as the bending frequency remains consistent across all energies within the 0.3-3 keV band, revealing the presence of a constant temperature corona. These significant findings impose critical constraints on current models of X-ray emission and variability in AGN.
title High-Frequency Power Spectrum of AGN NGC 4051 Revealed by NICER
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.13049