{
  "abstract": "Optical/UV continuum variability over baselines of up to 20 yr is investigated using the damped random walk (DRW) model for 1214 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) compiled from Y. Shen et al. and C. J. Burke et al. Among these, 115 AGNs with reliable DRW fitting and unbiased DRW parameters (timescale τ ₂₅₀₀ and amplitude σ ₂₅₀₀ at the rest-frame 2500 Å) are used to examine the relations between the variability and the accretion properties. We found a significant correlation of τ ₂₅₀₀ with black hole mass ( M BH ) and dimensionless accretion rate ( M ̇ ) of the form τ 2500 ∝ M BH 0.50 ± 0.07 M ̇ 0.27 ± 0.04 , while the dependence on the continuum luminosity at 5100 Å and redshift becomes insignificant after controlling for M BH . τ ₂₅₀₀ also correlates with the mass accretion rate ( M ̇ ) as τ 2500 ∝ M ̇ 0.41 ± 0.04 , which is consistent with the thermal timescale expected from the standard thin-disk model within 3 σ uncertainties; while the average value is consistent with the expectations of the model, the scatter in the relation can be due to differences in the viscosity parameter ( α ) or in disk temperature profiles. Assuming that τ ₂₅₀₀ corresponds to the accretion disk thermal timescale, the disk-emitting radius at rest-frame 2500 Å ( R ₂₅₀₀ ) is found to correlate with M BH as R 2500 ∝ M BH 0.53 ± 0.05 . Using the microlensing-based R ₂₅₀₀ – M BH relation of C. W. Morgan et al., α is statistically estimated to be 0.04 ± 0.01.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Xiang-Wei Ning"
    },
    {
      "name": "翔炜 宁"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wen-Jie Hu"
    },
    {
      "name": "文杰 胡"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zi-Han Yuan"
    },
    {
      "name": "子涵 袁"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yi Tang"
    },
    {
      "name": "逸 唐"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yan-Song Ma"
    },
    {
      "name": "岩松 马"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yu-Meng Guan"
    },
    {
      "name": "雨蒙 官"
    },
    {
      "name": "Le-Yi Huang"
    },
    {
      "name": "乐奕 黄"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wei-Hao Bian"
    },
    {
      "name": "维豪 卞"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cp202bfqy9bkt.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3847/1538-4357/aeb010",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cp202bfqy9bkt",
  "issns": [
    "1538-4357",
    "0004-637X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aeb010",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "feed-journal",
      "astronomy/general"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aeb010/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-05",
  "publisher": "American Astronomical Society",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cp202bfqy9bkt.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T12:20:12Z",
      "native_id": "10.3847/1538-4357/aeb010",
      "source": "feed-iop",
      "url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aeb010"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T12:20:35Z",
      "native_id": "10.3847/1538-4357/aeb010",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aeb010"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:3103|Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies",
      "subfield": "stellar"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Probing the Optical/UV Continuum Variability of Active Galactic Nuclei with the Damped Random Walk Model",
  "title_text": "Probing the Optical/UV Continuum Variability of Active Galactic Nuclei with the Damped Random Walk Model",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T00:20:58Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cp202bfqy9bkt",
  "venue": "The Astrophysical Journal",
  "versions": []
}