Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2381/18535
 Title: Detection of an X-ray periodicity in the Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 766 with XMM-Newton Authors: Boller, T.Keil, R.Trümper, J.O'Brien, P. T.Reeves, J.Page, M. First Published: Jan-2001 Publisher: EDP Sciences for European Southern Observatory (ESO) Citation: Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2001, 365 (1) Abstract: We have analyzed the timing properties of the Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 766 observed with XMM-Newton during the PV phase. The source intensity changes by a factor of 1.3 over the 29 000 s observation. If the soft excess is modeled by a black body component, as indicated by the EPIC pn data, the luminosity of the black body component scales with its temperature according to $L \sim T^4$. This requires a lower limit "black body size"of about $\rm 1.3 10^{25} cm^2$. In addition, we report the detection of a strong periodic signal with $\rm 2.4 10^{-4} Hz$. Simulations of light curves with the observed time sequence and phase randomized for a red noise spectrum clearly indicate that the periodicity peak is intrinsic to the distant AGN. Furthermore, its existence is confirmed by the EPIC MOS and RGS data. The spectral fitting results show that the black body temperature and the absorption by neutral hydrogen remain constant during the periodic oscillations. This observational fact tends to rule out models in which the intensity changes are due to hot spots orbiting the central black hole. Precession according to the Bardeen-Petterson effect or instabilities in the inner accretion disk may provide explanations for the periodic signal. DOI Link: 10.1051/0004-6361:20000083 ISSN: 0004-6361 Links: http://hdl.handle.net/2381/18535http://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2001/01/aaxmm30/aaxmm30.html Version: Publisher Version Status: Peer-reviewed Type: Journal Article Rights: Copyright © 2001 ESO. Reproduced with permission from Astronomy & Astrophysics, © ESO. Appears in Collections: Published Articles, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat