We report on the results of three observations of 3C 273 by ROSAT (Staubert et al. 1993).

Among 13 BL Lacs observed with Ginga, 1H 0323+022, Mkn 421 and PKS 2155-304 exhibited significant variablity during each (typically one day) observation. On the flux-hardness plane, the data points obtained from each source draw a sort of clockwise hysteresis motion. It means that the spectrum hardens before the source gets brighter, while the spectrum softens before the source becomes fainter. Such a soft-lag behavior, first pointed out for PKS2155-304 by Sembay et al. These properties were also confirmed with the discrete cross correlation function technique.

A programme to obtain soft X-ray spectra of bright BL Lac's from pointed observations with ROSAT has been started. So far 13 objects have been observed and another 6 have been accepted for observation. Available data for the following sources were reduced: OQ 530, OJ 287, B2 0912+29, GB 1011+496, ON 231, B2 1215+30, B2 1308+32, and Mrk 421.

In this sample the most outstanding observation clearly is that of Mrk 421. This source was observed with the ROSAT PSPC for a total of 34 ksec between May 5 and May 7, 1992, at a mean countrate of 159 cts/s (see Fink et al., 1991, A&A246, L6 for ROSAT survey results). At the time of the observations Mrk 421 was also very luminous in the optical bands (see poster by S. Kikuchi, this conference). Within the ROSAT band the spectrum is flatter at the soft end (photon index for broken power law model between −2.2 and −2.0) than at the hard end (photon index between −2.6 and −2.4). The countrate increases during the first 5 orbits with a maximum e-folding time of 1.5 days, reaching a maximum luminosity of 4 × 1045 erg/s in the energy range of 0.1 to 2.4 keV (for H 0 = 75km/s/Mpc). It is followed by a slow decline until a second rise starts which is much stronger in harder X-rays than at low energies. Plotting the hardness ratio (defined as the difference in the countrates above and below 0.5 keV divided by the total countrate) versus the total countrate the second rise displays a much steeper gradient than the first one (see figure 1a).

For most of the other BL Lac's the countrates are too low to detect variability on these timescales of hours to days, except for B2 1215+30 and OQ 530, where the chance probability for the observed variations is 4 × 10−4 and 10−10, respectively. Also no clear correlation between hardness ratio and countrate could be found. Spectral fits of single power law models with absorption result in photon indizes ranging from −3.1 to −1.9 with no detectable absorption above the galactic value for 5 of these sources, and some additional absorption for GB 1011+496 and B2 1215+30 (see figure 1b).

Prior to ROSAT, separation of X-ray components in radio galaxies has been limited to a few well-known sources, e.g., M 87 and Cen A. Now, from ROSAT PSPC measurements of the first six objects in our study of low-power radio galaxies, we find that both resolved (thermal) and unresolved X-ray emission in a single source is typical (Worrall & Birkinshaw 1993; ApJ, submitted). The angular size of, and fraction of luminosity in, the resolved X-ray emission varies between objects. There is evidence to relate the unresolved X-ray emission with the inner radio jet.

One possible approach to distinguish between “intrinsic” and “external” mechanisms for variability implies a study of possible correlations between flux variability and the fine structure of sources. We present results of snapshot global VLBI observations at 327 MHz of a sample of 16 extragalactic radio sources (1 radio galaxy, 9 quasars, 4 BL Lacs, 2 unidentified) selected on the basis of the bi-monthly flux monitoring at five frequencies (1400, 880, 606, 430, and 318 MHz). The observed source sample is presented in the Table I.

We present new results of our monitoring program for the superluminal quasar 3C 345 having been in continuous operation since 1968. The photographic B-band observations newly reported were made in 1984-91 during 218 nights. The optical light curve (1965-91) containing all available B-band observations was obtained.

We present the lightcurve of 3C 345 (1641+399, z = 0.595) in Johnson R. The data until summer 1992 are analysed and discussed in detail in Schramm et al. (A&A, Nov. 1993). The more recent lightcurve is almost flat (R ≃ 16.9), giving new constraints on variability models, see Camenzind, this proceedings.

As was shown by Choloniewski (1981), in the frame of two-component model (constant component + variable source) the confrontation of the fluxes observed in various spectral bands permits to find relative spectral energy distribution (if it is unchanged) of the variable source. In this case the observed points are settled on straight lines the slopes of which give the flux ratios in various bands for the variable source.

A radio-selected (1 Jy, Stickel et al., 1991) and a x-ray selected (EXOSAT, Giommi et al., 1991) sample of BL Lac objects was monitored by performing relative CCD photometry in order to examine the duty cycle, the dominant time-scales and the typical amplitudes of the variability. The samples consist of 34 and 11 objects, respectively.

On the basis of results of optical photometry and polarimetry of OJ287 and Mrk421 since 1981, we find two states of activities for both objects. In OJ287, a color-magnitude relation which is consistent with the standard jet-shock model is seen after the outburst in 1983, while before 1982 the optical colors were almost constant. In Mrk421, the colors became redder in 1985–87, and the change of the preferred direction of polarization was associated on smaller time scale in 1987.

An international collaboration is monitoring the variable Seyfert galaxy NGC 5548 in the optical spectral range since 1988. In Fig. 1 (left) the Hα light curves of the blue wing (–6000 until – 1000 km s−1) and the red wing (+1000 until + 6000 km s−1) are shown for the first year of the monitoring campaign from Dec.1988 until Oct.1989. It can be seen that these line components of the Hα profile have different amplitudes in the light curves. The mean Hα and Hβ difference spectra with respect to the minimum state are plotted in Fig. 1 (right) for the same period. The relative strength of the blue component at vrel = −2000 km s−1 is different with respect to the core of the line profiles. Therefore, these components originate under different physical conditions or in regions with different dust content. This work has been supported by DFG grant Ko 857/13-1

Our monitoring program in Metsähovi, Finland, consists of a complete sample of bright, flat-spectrum extragalactic compact radio sources. For the structure function analysis we have selected 42 best observed objects from this sample. The structure function analysis gives us two parameters, the slope value α and the maximum variability timescale Tmax.

There are analyzed 1.5 - years observations of a series of bursts in the quasar 0235+16 at 8 frequencies between 0.3 GHz and 15 GHz from July 1981 to December 1982, obtained by Altschuler et al. (1984) and Aller et al. (1985). These observations are compared with a Hedgehog model (see Kovalev and Mikhailutsa, 1980, with full references).

The lack of a plateau in the average structure function (hereafter SF) for the complete flux-limited sample of Seielstad et al. (1983) [Fig.1] suggests that the mean time scale of radio sources variability at 10.8 GHz should be longer than the 3.8-yr time base of those observations. A comparison of the variability time scales derived from the SF analysis with those predicted by the statistical model of Magdziarz & Machalski (1993, AA, in print) [Fig.2] confirms consistency of that model. The mean time scale of variability of <τ> = 6±2 yr was found in both cases for v = 10.8 GHz.

We have monitored spectrophotometrically a subsample (28) of the Palomar-Green Bright Quasar Sample for two years in order to measure the sizes of the broad-line regions of high-luminosity AGNs. Half of the quasars showed optical continuum variations with amplitudes in the range 20–75%. In most objects with continuum variations, we detect correlated variations in the broad Hα and Hβ emission lines. The amplitude of the line variations is usually 2–4 times smaller than the optical continuum fluctuations. The lines respond to the continuum variations with a lag that is smaller than or comparable to our typical sampling interval (a few months). This suggests that the quasars have broad-line regions smaller than about 1 lt-year. The figures below show spectra and light curves for one of the quasars. Two of the quasars monitored show no detectable line variations despite relatively large-amplitude continuum changes. This could be a stronger manifestation of the low-amplitude line-response phenomenon we observe in the other quasars. Further details appear in Maoz et al. (1994, ApJ, Jan 20, in press).

The results of several photometric campaigns (1986–1993) in the near IR of the six bright BL Lac objects 3C 66A, PKS 0422+004, PKS 0735+178, PKS 0754+100, PKS 0829+046 and OQ 530 are presented. The observations were carried out at the 1.5 m Italian IR Telescope at Gornergrat (TIRGO − 3150 m a.s.l.) equipped with a IR photometer using a InSb detector cooled at the solid nitrogen temperature and the standard J, H, K filters. The principal aims of our program are the search of rapid variability (typical time scales of 1 day or less) and of correlations between the flux level (typically in the J band, where the largest variation amplitude is found) and the spectral slope. In the following we summarize some relevant results.

After a minimum in the spring of 1984, when the broad permitted lines were found to become much weaker, the spectrum of NGC 4151 became much more like a Sy 2 (Lyutyi et al., 1984; Chuvaev and Oknyanskij, 1989; Penston and Perez, 1984). Recently, this object returned to the high state after about 8 yr in the semiquiescent phase (Oknyanskij et al., 1991).

Short time scale X-ray power spectra of AGN are in general well fitted by a power law with slopes between −1 and −2 but we expect these slopes to flatten at low frequencies (indication of such a flattening has already been seen in NGC 5506). We have searched for such a low-frequency break in the power spectrum of NGC 4151 by investigating its long term X-ray light curve (2–10 keV). To construct this light curve we used Ariel V SSI, OSO-8, HEAO-1, Ariel VI, EXOSAT ME and GINGA LAC data.

On behalf of the International AGN Watch, I report on the results of intensive ultraviolet spectral monitoring of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 3783. The nucleus of NGC 3783 was observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite on a regular basis for a total of seven months, once every 4 days for the first 172 days and once every other day for the final 50 days. Significant variability was observed in both continuum and emission-line fluxes. The light curves for the continuum fluxes exhibited two well-defined local minima or “dips,” the first lasting ≲ 20 days and the second ≲ 4 days, with additional episodes of relatively rapid flickering of approximately the same amplitude. As in the case of NGC 5548 (the only other Seyfert galaxy that has been the subject of such an intensive, sustained monitoring effort), the largest continuum variations were seen at the shortest wavelengths, so that the continuum became “harder” when brighter. The variations in the continuum occurred simultaneously at all wavelengths (Δt < 2 days). Generally, the amplitude of variability of the emission lines was lower than (or comparable to) that of the continuum. Apart from Mg II (which varied little) and N V (which is relatively weak and badly blended with Lyα) the light curves of the emission lines are very similar to the continuum light curves, in each case with a small systematic delay or “lag.” As for NGC 5548, the highest ionization lines seem to respond with shorter lags than the lower ionization lines. The lags found for NGC 3783 are considerably shorter than those obtained for NGC 5548, with values of (formally) ∼ 0 days for He II+O III], and ∼ 4 days for Lyα, and C IV. The data further suggest lags of ∼ 4 days for Si IV+O IV], and 8–30 days for Si III]+C III]. Uncertainties in these quantities are likely to be of order 2–3 days for the stronger features (Lyα, C IV), and 3–4 days for the weaker ones (He II+O III], Si IV+O IV], Si III]+C III]). Mg II lagged the 1460 Å continuum by ∼ 9 days, although this result depends on the method of measuring the line flux, and may in fact be due to variability of the underlying Fe II lines. Correlation analysis further shows that the power density spectrum contains substantial unresolved power over time scales of ≲ 2 days, and that the character of the continuum variability may change with time.

We present some very preliminary results of the multifrequency microvariability campaign of two BL Lac objects OJ 287 and Mk 421 carried out mainly during four days in March 1993. During these four days also IUE was observing these blazars. In this poster we present only a small part of the whole data: radio observations at Metsähovi, CCD observations on La Palma and Heidelberg and UBVRI photopolarimetric observations at Crimea. Because of the very bad global weather conditions and also because of the faintnes of OJ 287 our optical observations were very limited.