Study of the spectral energy distributions and variability of a large X-ray selected sample of AGN

在之前三个成功的博士项目的基础上，这项工作将大大增加AGN的样本量（超过700个）。因此，这将有可能首次研究关键物理参数，如爱丁顿比和黑洞自旋，对观测到的多频谱能量分布的重要性。此外，与此相辅相成的是，学生将使用可变性特性来约束所涉及的发射机制。这些研究的结果将在达勒姆开发的最先进的吸积盘模型的背景下进行解释。预计将向两个卫星设施提出从样本中获得选定AGN的新观测结果的建议。哈勃望远镜和xmm -牛顿望远镜，以及大型地面望远镜，如VLT和双子座8米望远镜，我们凭借现有的合作关系可以使用这些望远镜。

Building on three previous successful PhD projects, this work will very substantially increase the sample size of AGN(to over 700). Thereby it will be possible, for the first time, to investigate the importance of key physical parameters such as Eddington ratio and black hole spin, on the observed multi-frequency spectral energy distributions. In addition, and complementary to this, the student will use variability properties to constrain the emission mechanisms involved. The outcomes of these studies will be interpreted in the context of state-of-the-art accretion disc models developed here in Durham. It is anticipated that proposals to obtain new observations of selected AGN from the sample will be made to both satellite facilities eg. the Hubble and XMM-Newton, and to large ground based telescopes such as the VLT and the Gemini 8m's,to which we have access by virtue of existing collaborations.