Light curve of a source orbiting around a black hole: A fitting-formula

Abstract

A simple, analytical fitting-formula for a photometric light curve of a source of light orbiting around a black hole is presented. The formula is applicable for sources on a circular orbit with radius smaller than 45 gravitational radii from the black hole. This range of radii requires gravitational focusation of light rays and the Doppler effect to be taken into account with care. The fitting-formula is therefore useful for modelling the X-ray variability of inner regions in active galactic nuclei.

12 pages, requires aasms.sty, to appear in The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 470 (October 20, 1996), figures available upon request from the Author, or at http://otokar.troja.mff.cuni.cz/user/karas/au_www/karas/papers.htm

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Gravitational Lensing by Black Holes
• Tidal effects on small bodies by massive black holes
• Relativistic spectral features from X-ray illuminated spots and the measure of the black hole mass in AGN
• Theoretical aspects of relativistic spectral features
• Simultaneous X-ray and Ultraviolet spectroscopy of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 5548. III. X-ray time variability
• Electromagnetic signatures of strong-field gravity from accreting black holes
• Timing of echoes in electromagnetic radiation from hot spots orbiting a Kerr black hole impostor