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The X-ray variability of PKS 2155-304: A power spectrum analysis

  • VI. X-ray Spectra and Variability
  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Book cover BL Lac Objects

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 334))

Abstract

The bright BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 was observed with EXOSAT 9 times between 1983 and 1985 for a total of 80 hours. During some observations the source appeared stable, while during others, flare-like activity was observed, the intensity doubling in less than an hour. Here we present a power spectrum analysis of the 3 brightest observations. Significant power is found between ≈- 5 x 10−5 and ≈- 2 x 10−3 Hz. Power spectra obtained from the 1–7 keV light curves, using standard Fourier techniques, have an average power-law slope of ≈- -1.5. We find evidence that the power spectrum is affected by low-frequency “leakage”.

On leave from I.C.R.A., Dipartimento di Fisica'G.Marconi', Universita' di Roma, I.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astrophysics Division, Space Science Department of ESA, EXOSAT Observatory, ESTEC, NL

    G. Tagliaferri & L. Stella

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita' di Milano, Milano, I

    L. Maraschi & A. Treves

  3. Istituto di Fisica Cosmica ed Applicazioni dell'Informatica C.N.R., Palermo, I

    M. Morini

Authors
  1. G. Tagliaferri
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  2. L. Stella
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  3. L. Maraschi
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  4. A. Treves
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  5. M. Morini
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Editor information

L. Maraschi T. Maccacaro M. -H. Ulrich

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© 1989 Springer-Verlag

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Tagliaferri, G., Stella, L., Maraschi, L., Treves, A., Morini, M. (1989). The X-ray variability of PKS 2155-304: A power spectrum analysis. In: Maraschi, L., Maccacaro, T., Ulrich, M.H. (eds) BL Lac Objects. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 334. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0031177

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0031177

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-51389-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-46203-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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