The role of an accretion disk in AGN variability
Abstract
Description
Optically thick accretion disks are considered to be important ingredients of luminous AGN. The claim of their existence is well supported by observations and recent years brought some progress in understanding of their dynamics. However, the role of accretion disks in optical/UV/X-ray variability of AGN is not quite clear. Most probably, in short timescales the disk reprocesses the variable X-ray flux but at longer timescales the variations of the disk structure lead directly to optical/UV variations as well as affect, or even create, the X-ray variability pattern. We urgently need a considerable progress in time-dependent disk models to close the gap between the theory and the stream of data coming from the AGN monitoring.
slightly extended version of the text send to Proceedings of the conference "AGN variability from X-rays to Radio", 14-16 June 2004, Crimea, Ukraina
slightly extended version of the text send to Proceedings of the conference "AGN variability from X-rays to Radio", 14-16 June 2004, Crimea, Ukraina