On the Reliability of Cross‐Correlation Function Lag Determinations in Active Galactic Nuclei

• Published in: Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Vol. 111; no. 765; pp. 1347 - 1366
• Main Author: Welsh, W. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The University of Chicago Press 01.11.1999
• Subjects: Centroids; Error rates; Estimation bias; Light curves; Polynomials; Statistical median; Statistical variance; Time series; Transfer functions; White noise

Many active galactic nuclei (AGNs) exhibit a highly variable luminosity. Some AGNs also show a pronounced time delay between variations seen in their optical continuum and in their emission lines. In effect, the emission lines are light echoes of the continuum. This light‐travel time delay provides...