Variability In A Low-Mass AGN: Oscillation Or Eruption?

Understand

Following the discovery of a new class of X-ray variability seen in four galaxies, dubbed Quasi-Periodic Eruptions (QPEs), we reconsider the variability seen in the low-mass AGN 2XMM J123103.2+110648 to ascertain whether it should be considered the fifth QPE host galaxy.

• We apply the autocorrelation function to two archival XMM-Newton observations to determine characteristic timescales for variability of $\sim$ 13.52 ks and $\sim$ 14.35 ks.
• The modelling of lightcurves, both folded at these timescales and unfolded, indicates that a Gaussian model is preferable over a sinusoidal model, with average durations for the bright phases of 6.17 ks and 7.69 ks.
• In a broad 0.2-1.0 keV band the average amplitude of the bright phases was found to be 2.86 and 8.56 times the quiescent count rate.