Optical Variability of the very Radio-Loud Narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy, 1H 0323+342

TL;DR

This study monitors the optical variability of the nearby, bright, radio-loud narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0323+342 over six and a half years, revealing microvariability on timescales of hours and proposing a fundamental source timescale.

Contribution

It provides the first simultaneous multi-telescope optical monitoring of 1H 0323+342 and introduces an improved method for detecting microvariability in such objects.

Findings

Detection of low amplitude microvariability events lasting a few hours.

Identification of a fundamental timescale linked to the source region.

Confirmation of microvariability through simultaneous multi-telescope observations.

Abstract

1H 0323+342 is optically one of the nearest and brightest very radio loud narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies (vRL NLSy1). It is also one of the first vRLNLSy1s detected at gamma-ray energies by the Fermi-LAT. We report the results of monitoring the optical flux of 1H 0323+342 during more than six and a half years. In some cases, we, for the first time, simultaneously use two telescopes to monitor the optical flux of 1H 0323+342 on timescales ranging from minutes to hours, demonstrating the reality of low amplitude microvariability whole events with durations of a few hours for this object. Based on the present results, as well as those of earlier studies, we suggest that this represents a fundamental timescale associated with the underlying source region. We also present an enhancement of Howell's comparison star method for detecting microvariability.