Abstract
We present an analysis of X-ray variability in a sample of 157 radio
quiet quasars from the ROSAT archive, ranging from 0.1 <z <4.1.
A maximum likelihood method is used to constrain the amplitude of
variability in low signal to noise light curves. Through combining these
light curves, we are able to identify trends with luminosity and
redshift. The decline in variability amplitude with luminosity
identified in local AGN (z <0.1) is seen to continue self-similarly
out to high redshift. At redshifts greater than 2 there is evidence for
an increase in QSO X-ray variability amplitude suggesting these quasars
may contain smaller black holes than their local equivalents.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | AGN Surveys, Proceedings of IAU Colloquium 184, ASP Conference Proceedings |
Editors | R.F. Green, E. Ye. Khachikian, D.B. Sanders |
Publisher | ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC |
Pages | 251 |
Volume | 284 |
ISBN (Print) | 1-58381-127-3 |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |