A periodicity of ∼1 hour in X-ray emission from the active galaxy RE J1034+396

Marek Gierliński; Matthew Middleton; Martin Ward; Chris Done

doi:10.1038/nature07277

A periodicity of ∼1 hour in X-ray emission from the active galaxy RE J1034+396

Marek Gierliński (Lead / Corresponding author), Matthew Middleton, Martin Ward, Chris Done

Computational Biology

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277 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Active galactic nuclei and quasars are thought to be scaled-up versions of Galactic black hole binaries, powered by accretion onto supermassive black holes with masses of 10⁶-10⁹ M_⊙, as opposed to the ∼10 M_⊙ in binaries (here M_⊙ is the solar mass). One example of the similarities between these two types of systems is the characteristic rapid X-ray variability seen from the accretion flow. The power spectrum of this variability in black hole binaries consists of a broad noise with multiple quasi-periodic oscillations superimposed on it. Although the broad noise component has been observed in many active galactic nuclei, there have hitherto been no significant detections of quasi-periodic oscillations. Here we report the discovery of an ∼1-hour X-ray periodicity in a bright active galaxy, RE J1034+396. The signal is highly statistically significant (at the 5.6σ level) and very coherent, with quality factor Q > 16. The X-ray modulation arises from the direct vicinity of the black hole.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	369-371
Number of pages	3
Journal	Nature
Volume	455
Issue number	7211
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07277
Publication status	Published - 18 Sept 2008

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title = "A periodicity of ∼1 hour in X-ray emission from the active galaxy RE J1034+396",

abstract = "Active galactic nuclei and quasars are thought to be scaled-up versions of Galactic black hole binaries, powered by accretion onto supermassive black holes with masses of 106-109 M⊙, as opposed to the ∼10 M⊙ in binaries (here M⊙ is the solar mass). One example of the similarities between these two types of systems is the characteristic rapid X-ray variability seen from the accretion flow. The power spectrum of this variability in black hole binaries consists of a broad noise with multiple quasi-periodic oscillations superimposed on it. Although the broad noise component has been observed in many active galactic nuclei, there have hitherto been no significant detections of quasi-periodic oscillations. Here we report the discovery of an ∼1-hour X-ray periodicity in a bright active galaxy, RE J1034+396. The signal is highly statistically significant (at the 5.6σ level) and very coherent, with quality factor Q > 16. The X-ray modulation arises from the direct vicinity of the black hole.",

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T1 - A periodicity of ∼1 hour in X-ray emission from the active galaxy RE J1034+396

AU - Gierliński, Marek

AU - Middleton, Matthew

AU - Ward, Martin

AU - Done, Chris

PY - 2008/9/18

Y1 - 2008/9/18

N2 - Active galactic nuclei and quasars are thought to be scaled-up versions of Galactic black hole binaries, powered by accretion onto supermassive black holes with masses of 106-109 M⊙, as opposed to the ∼10 M⊙ in binaries (here M⊙ is the solar mass). One example of the similarities between these two types of systems is the characteristic rapid X-ray variability seen from the accretion flow. The power spectrum of this variability in black hole binaries consists of a broad noise with multiple quasi-periodic oscillations superimposed on it. Although the broad noise component has been observed in many active galactic nuclei, there have hitherto been no significant detections of quasi-periodic oscillations. Here we report the discovery of an ∼1-hour X-ray periodicity in a bright active galaxy, RE J1034+396. The signal is highly statistically significant (at the 5.6σ level) and very coherent, with quality factor Q > 16. The X-ray modulation arises from the direct vicinity of the black hole.

AB - Active galactic nuclei and quasars are thought to be scaled-up versions of Galactic black hole binaries, powered by accretion onto supermassive black holes with masses of 106-109 M⊙, as opposed to the ∼10 M⊙ in binaries (here M⊙ is the solar mass). One example of the similarities between these two types of systems is the characteristic rapid X-ray variability seen from the accretion flow. The power spectrum of this variability in black hole binaries consists of a broad noise with multiple quasi-periodic oscillations superimposed on it. Although the broad noise component has been observed in many active galactic nuclei, there have hitherto been no significant detections of quasi-periodic oscillations. Here we report the discovery of an ∼1-hour X-ray periodicity in a bright active galaxy, RE J1034+396. The signal is highly statistically significant (at the 5.6σ level) and very coherent, with quality factor Q > 16. The X-ray modulation arises from the direct vicinity of the black hole.

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IS - 7211

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A periodicity of ∼1 hour in X-ray emission from the active galaxy RE J1034+396

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