Broadband X-ray/UV/optical time-resolved spectroscopy of NGC 5548: The origin of the UV/optical variability in active galactic nuclei
Astronomy & Astrophysics(2024)
摘要
Recently, nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN) have been subject to long
X-rays/UV/optical monitoring campaigns. These campaigns reveal a strong
correlation between the various UV and optical bands, with time lags increasing
with wavelength. In a series of papers, we demonstrated that a scenario in
which a central X-ray source illuminates the accretion disc explains the
observed correlations. However, some of the monitored AGN show low/moderate
X-rays-UV correlations, which could challenge this scenario. In this paper, we
study the broadband X-ray/UV/optical spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of
NGC 5548, one of the most intensively monitored AGN. We aim to test if the
X-ray illumination model explains the broadband spectral behaviour of the
source, despite the moderate X-ray-UV/optical correlation. We model the
broadband time-averaged SED, from the STORM monitoring campaign of the source,
using the KYNSED model which assumes an X-ray illuminated disc. We assume that
the accretion process powers the X-ray corona. We also model 15 time-resolved
SEDs from the same campaign to check whether this scenario can account for the
observed spectral variability. The proposed model describes well the
time-averaged and the time-resolved SEDs of NGC 5548. In this scenario, the
corona height, the X-ray photon index, and the power transferred to the corona
all vary. This explains the variability behaviour at different wavelengths. The
best-fit model is obtained for a non-rotating black hole accreting at a
constant rate of 5
affects the observed flux in a particular way, the combined variability of all
parameters explains the moderate X-ray-UV/optical correlation. The X-ray
illuminated disc model provides a complete description of the behaviour of NGC
5548, explaining its broadband SEDs, time-lag spectrum, and its power spectral
distribution.
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