AGN Accretion Disk Reverberation Mapping with a Small Robotic Observatory
Abstract
The size and temperature profile of AGN accretion disks can be determined through continuum reverberation mapping. X-rays/EUV emission originating from near the supermassive black hole irradiates the accretion disk. The disk then reprocesses and re-emits at longer wavelengths with variability in the irradiating emission leading to variability in the reprocessed emission ('echoes'). We therefore see variable, correlated continuum light curves with emission from the hotter inner disk (UV) seen before the cooler outer disk (near-IR) due to additional light travel time. The magnitude and wavelength-dependence of these time lags probes the size and temperature profile of the accretion disk. We are using a small (20 inch) robotic telescope (the Dan Zowada Memorial Observatory) equipped with Sloan (ugriz) filters to perform accretion disk reverberation mapping on a sample of nearby AGN. We will present initial results from the first year of the survey.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E1594M