Models of optical/UV continuum in AGN. Constraints from NGC 5548 monitoring campaign

Abstract

We analyse the data from the optical/IUE observational campaign of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 5548 in the context of 10 phenomenological models. On the basis of the optical/UV data as well as constraints from the X-ray observations we can favour one model of the nucleus: an accretion disc with an inner radius cutoff surrounded by a hot corona. The second acceptable model for optical/UV data is a distribution of optically thin clouds. However, X-ray constraints which were crucial in the analysis of disc type models could not have been applied; further development of this model is necessary.