The Extreme Optical Variability of J0948+0022

TL;DR

This study documents extreme optical variability in the galaxy J0948+0022 across various timescales, suggesting jet-originated microvariability similar to blazars, and discusses its potential as a prototype for a new class of blazar-like objects.

Contribution

It provides detailed optical variability observations of J0948+0022, supporting its classification as a blazar-like object and highlighting jet-related origins of rapid variability.

Findings

Optical microvariability similar to LBL blazars.

Rapid variations originate in the relativistic jet.

Supports J0948+0022 as a prototype for blazar-like objects.

Abstract

We report on observations of the optical variability of the radio-loud, narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy J0948+0022 on time scales ranging from minutes to years. Implications regarding recent suggestions that the object may constitute a prototype for an emerging class of blazar-like objects similar to FSRQs are discussed. The optical microvariability observed for J0948+0022 is found to be similar to that found for a typical LBL blazar. Based on observations of J0948+0022 in a flaring state and a significantly lower state, one can demonstrate that these rapid variations are most likely originating in the relativistic jet and not in the accretion disk