X-ray variability in M87
Abstract
We present the evidence for X-ray variability from the core and from knot A in the M87 jet based on data from two observations with the Einstein Observatory High Resolution Imager (HRI) and three observations with the ROSAT HRI. The core intensity showed a 16% increase in 17 months ('79-'80); a 12% increase in the 3 years '92 to '95; and a 17% drop in the last half of 1995. The intensity of knot A appears to have decreased by 16% between 92Jun and 95Dec. Although the core variability is consistent with general expectations for AGN nuclei, the changes in knot A provide constraints on the x-ray emission process and geometry. Thus we predict that the x-ray morphology of knot A will differ significantly from the radio and optical structure.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9612055,
title = {X-ray variability in M87},
author = {D. E. Harris and J. A. Biretta and W. Junor},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9612055},
year = {2016}
}
Comments
9 pages latex plus 6 ps figs. To appear in Monthly Notices of the RAS