Detection of time delay between UV and X-ray variability in Mrk 1044 using AstroSat observations

Abstract

Active galactic nuclei are known to exhibit flux variations across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Among these, correlations between UV/optical and X-ray flux variations serve as a key diagnostics for understanding the physical connection between the accretion disk and the corona. In this work, we present the results of analysis of ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray flux variations in the narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 1044. Simultaneous observations in the far-UV band (FUV: 1300 - 1800 Å) and the X-ray band (0.5 - 7 keV) obtained during 31 August - 8 September 2018 with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope and the Soft X-ray Telescope onboard AstroSat were used for this study. Significant flux variability was detected in both FUV and X-ray bands. The fractional root mean square variability amplitude (Fvar) was found to be 0.036 ± 0.001 in the FUV band and 0.384 ± 0.004 in the X-ray band. To explore potential time lag between the two bands, cross-correlation analysis was performed using both the interpolated cross-correlation function (ICCF) and just another vehicle for estimating lags in nuclei (JAVELIN) methods. Results from both approaches are consistent within 2σ uncertainty, indicating that X-ray variations lead the FUV variations, with measured lags of 2.25 ± 0.05 days (ICCF) and 2.35−0.01+0.02 days (JAVELIN). This is the first detection of a time delay between UV and X-ray variations in Mrk 1044. The observed UV lag supports the disk reprocessing scenario, wherein X-ray emission from the corona irradiates the accretion disk, driving the observed UV variability.