Using AGN lightcurves to map accretion disc temperature fluctuations

We introduce a new model for understanding AGN continuum variability. We start from a Shakura--Sunyaev thin accretion disc with a steady-state radial temperature profile T(R) and assume that the variable flux is due to axisymmetric temperature perturbations \delta T(R,t). After linearizing the equations, we fit UV-optical AGN lightcurves to determine... Show more