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Periodicity in the continua and broad line curves of a quasar E1821+643

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Abstract

Here we present an in-depth analysis of the periodicity of the continua and broad emission lines of a quasar E1821+643. We applied non-parametric composite models, the linear sum of stationary and non-stationary Gaussian processes, and quantified contribution of their periodic parts. We found important qualitative differences among the three periodic signals. Periods of \({\sim}2200\) and \({\sim}4500\) days appear in both continua 5100 Å and 4200 Å, as well as in the \(\mathrm{H}\upgamma\) emission line. Their integer ratio is nearly harmonic \({\sim}\frac{1}{2}\), suggesting the same physical origin. We discuss the nature of these periods, proposing that the system of two objects in dynamical interaction can be origin of two largest periods.

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Notes

  1. Some models of multiple black hole systems (e.g. Sundelius et al. 1997) have shown that perturbations in such systems may not have strictly periodic character, so we can think of them as quasi (pseudo) periodic.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the anonymous reviewer for diligent reading of our manuscript and insightful comments and suggestions. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Serbia through the project Astrophysical Spectroscopy of Extragalactic Objects (176001) and RFBR (grants N12-02-01237a, 12-02-00857a, 12-02-01237a, N15-02-02101).

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Correspondence to A. Kovačević.

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Kovačević, A., Popović, L.Č., Shapovalova, A.I. et al. Periodicity in the continua and broad line curves of a quasar E1821+643. Astrophys Space Sci 362, 31 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-017-3009-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-017-3009-z

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