Optical Continuum Variability of the Active Galaxy Mrk 279 - Implications for Different Accretion Regimes

Abstract

We present results from a recent broad-band monitoring in optics of the Seyfert 1 type galaxy Mrk 279. We build and analyse the BVRI light curve covering a period of seven years (1995 - 2002). We also show some evidence for the existence of two different states in brightness and suggest, based on a modelling of the optical continuum, that these states may result from transition between a thin disk and an ADAF accretion modes. We assume that the short-term variability is due to a reprocessing of a variable X-ray emission from an inner ADAF part of the flow, while the long-term one may be a result from a change of the transition radius. Our tests show a good match with the observations for a reasonable set of accretion parameters, rather close to the ones, expected for Mrk 279.