Investigating X-ray variability of AGN through spectral and temporal analyses : Mrk 530 & Mrk 335

Abstract

X-ray observations of two Seyfert AGN were analysed in an effort to characterise the nature of their variability. A spectral analysis was performed on a Suzaku observation of the Seyfert 1.5 AGN Mrk 530, and a timing analysis on XMM-Newton observations of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 Mrk 335. Mrk 530 was found to exhibit two distinct spectral states over the course of a single observation, as well as apparent periodic variability in the light curve. Three physical models (blurred reflection, partial covering, and soft Comptonisation) were explored to characterise the spectrum however the spectral fits were indistinguishable. The timing analysis of Mrk 335 revealed evidence of non-stationary behaviour using multiple timing methods, though it is diffcult to determine if these results are real or artifacts of undersampling. As such, further testing is required to confirm these results.