Probing the rest-frame wavelength dependence of Quasar variability : Insights from the Zwicky Transient Facility Survey

Context.

Quasar variability can potentially unlock crucial insights into the accretion process.

Understanding how this variability is influenced by wavelength is crucial for validating and refining quasar variability models.

Aims.

This paper aims to enhance the understanding of the dependence of variability on rest-frame wavelength by isolating the variance on different time scales in well-defined wavelength bins and examining the Corona-heated Accretion-disk (CHAR) model.

Methods.

We investigated the relation between variance and rest-frame wavelength using optical g and r-band light curves from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) Data Release 15 for 5000 quasars within narrow ranges of black hole mass ($M_{BH}$) and Eddington ratio ($R_{Edd}$).

A spectral model taking into account disk continuum emission, Balmer transitions and Fe II pseudo-continuum emission, and other emission lines is necessary to best interpret the variance spectrum.

Results.

Our analysis indicates a strong anti-correlation between median variance and rest-frame wavelength for quasars with $M_{BH} = 10^{8}$ and $R_{Edd} = 10^{-1}$ at different timescales.

This anti-correlation is more pronounced at shorter timescales.

The results align well with a bending power-law Power Spectrum Density (PSD) model with both the damping timescale and the high-frequency slope of the PSD depending on wavelength.

The accurate predictions provided by the CHAR model on the variance spectrum across most timescales studied showcases its potential in constraining temperature variations within the accretion disk.

Key words.

accretion, accretion discs; galaxies:active; quasars: supermassive black holes ;Comment: Accepted in A&A, soon to be published