The disk reverberation mapping of X-ray weak quasars: a case study of SDSS J153913.47+395423.4

TL;DR

This study measures inter-band time lags in an X-ray weak quasar, challenging the standard reprocessing model and suggesting alternative mechanisms like anisotropic corona or EUV torus models.

Contribution

It provides the first inter-band lag measurement in an X-ray weak quasar, testing the lamppost model's applicability in such cases.

Findings

Detected a ~33-day lag in ZTF g and r bands.

X-ray power is insufficient to explain the observed lag.

Alternative models like CHAR or EUV torus may explain the data.

Abstract

The widely adopted ``lamppost'' thermal reprocessing model, in which the variable UV/optical emission is a result of the accretion disk reprocessing of the highly fluctuating X-ray emission, can be tested by measuring inter-band time lags in quasars spanning a range of X-ray power. This work reports the inter-band time lag in an apparently X-ray weak quasar, SDSS J153913.47+395423.4. A significant cross-correlation with a time delay of $\sim 33$ days (observed-frame) is detected in the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) $g$ and $r$ light curves of SDSS J153913.47+395423.4. The observed X-ray power seems to be too weak to account for the observed inter-band cross-correlation with time delay. Hence the X-ray weak quasar SDSS J153913.47+395423.4 is either intrinsically X-ray normal (but observationally X-ray weak), or the X-ray emission is not the only mechanism to drive UV/optical variability. In the former case, the required X-ray power is at least 19 times stronger than observed, which requires either an exceptionally anisotropic corona or Compton-thick obscuration. Alternatively, the Corona-heated Accretion disk Reprocessing (CHAR) or the EUV torus models may account for the observed time lags.