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Can the Optical Fluctuations of 3C 273 be Random?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2015

James Terrell  and
Kenneth H. Olsen
James Terrell
Affiliation:
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S.A.
Kenneth H. Olsen
Affiliation:
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, N.M., U.S.A.

Abstract

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The fluctuations in optical brightness of the quasi-stellar object 3C 273 have been investigated to determine whether the suggested periodicity of ∼ 10 yr is supported by the observational data extending over 80 yr. New methods of obtaining information from the power spectrum have been used, and moments and trends have also been investigated. No statistically-supportable evidence has been found in the power spectrum for such a non-random variation. The moments and trends are consistent with random fluctuations. If the observed fluctuations are of shot-noise character, due to random outbursts of light, the individual pulses must occur at the rate of 15 ± 5 per year and have an average effective length of 3.2 ± 1 yr. These conclusions were verified by computer-generation and power-spectrum analysis of such random signals. Thus any periodic variation in the brightness of 3C 273, if present, is completely obscured by random fluctuations. The power spectrum, moments, and trend are all consistent with random but long-lasting outbursts of light.

Type
Research Article
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 44: External Galaxies and Quasi-Stellar Objects , 1972 , pp. 179 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1972 

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