The X-ray Variability of High Redshift QSOs

James C. Manners, Omar Almaini, Andy Lawrence

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

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 languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAGN Surveys, Proceedings of IAU Colloquium 184, ASP Conference Proceedings
EditorsR.F. Green, E. Ye. Khachikian, D.B. Sanders
PublisherASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC
Pages251
Volume284
ISBN (Print)1-58381-127-3
Publication statusPublished - 2002

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