Bruce, A, Lawrence, A, MacLeod, C, Elvis, M, Ward, MJ, Collinson, JS, Gezari, S, Marshall, PJ, Lam, MC, Kotak, R, Inserra, C, Polshaw, J, Kaiser, N, Kudritzki, R-P, Magnier, EA and Waters, C (2017) Spectral analysis of four 'hypervariable' AGN: a microneedle in the haystack? Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 467 (2). pp. 1259-1280. ISSN 0035-8711

Preview

Text Spectral analysis of four 'hypervariable' AGN a microneedle in the haystack.pdf - Published Version Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

We analyse four extreme active galactic nuclei (AGN) transients to explore the possibility that they are caused by rare, high-amplitude microlensing events. These previously unknown type-I AGN are located in the redshift range 0.6–1.1 and show changes of >1.5 mag in the g band on a time-scale of ∼years. Multi-epoch optical spectroscopy, from the William Herschel Telescope, shows clear differential variability in the broad line fluxes with respect to the continuum changes and also evolution in the line profiles. In two cases, a simple point-source, point-lens microlensing model provides an excellent match to the long-term variability seen in these objects. For both models, the parameter constraints are consistent with the microlensing being due to an intervening stellar mass object but as yet there is no confirmation of the presence of an intervening galaxy. The models predict a peak amplification of 10.3/13.5 and an Einstein time-scale of 7.5/10.8 yr, respectively. In one case, the data also allow constraints on the size of the C III] emitting region, with some simplifying assumptions, to be ∼1.0–6.5 light-days and a lower limit on the size of the Mg II emitting region to be >9 light-days (half-light radii). This C III] radius is perhaps surprisingly small. In the remaining two objects, there is spectroscopic evidence for an intervening absorber but the extra structure seen in the light curves requires a more complex lensing scenario to adequately explain.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ©: 2016 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions:	Astrophysics Research Institute
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Related URLs:	Author
Date Deposited:	22 Oct 2018 08:02
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 10:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1093/mnras/stx168
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9506

View Item