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The active galactic nuclei (AGN) are among the most powerful sources with an inherent, pronounced and random variation of brightness. The randomness of their time series is so subtle as to blur the border between aperiodic fluctuations and noisy oscillations. This poses challenges to analysing of such time series because neither visual inspection nor pre-exisitng methods can identify well oscillatory signals in them. Thus, there is a need for an objective method for periodicity detection. Here we review our a new data analysis method that combines a two-dimensional correlation (2D) of time series with the powerful methods of Gaussian processes. To demonstrate the utility of this technique, we apply it to two example problems which were not exploited enough: damped rednoised artificial time series mimicking AGN time series and newly published observed time series of changing look AGN (CL AGN) NGC 3516. The method successfully detected periodicities in both types of time series. Identified periodicity of ~4 yr in NGC 3516 allows us to speculate that if the thermal instability formed in its accretion disc (AD) on a time scale resembling detected periodicity then AD radius could be ~0.0024 pc.

The mass measurement of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) is a very complex task. Between several methods for SMBH mass measurements, some of them use the spectral lines, which indicate the motion of the emitting/absorbing material around an SMBH. Mostly, there is an assumption of virialization of line emitting gas in the region which is close to the central SMBH. In this paper we will give an overview of methods for the SMBH mass measurements using broad emission spectral lines observed in Type 1 AGNs. First we give the basic idea to use the parameters of broad lines to SMBH mass measurements. After that we give an overview of broad lines from X-ray (Fe kα) to the IR (Pashen and Brecket lines) which have been used for SMBH mass estimates. Additionally, we describe and discuss a new method for SMBH mass measurements using the polarization in the broad lines emitted from Type 1 AGNs.

Here, we give a short biography and summary of scientific contributions of Aleksandar Kubičela, a doyen of astronomy in Serbia, and an astrophysical research pioneer at the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade. Additionally, we evoke some of our memories concerning scientific collaboration with Aleksandar Kubičela.

One of the most important parameters in ionospheric plasma research, also having a wide practical application in wireless satellite telecommunications, is the total electron content (TEC) representing the columnal electron number density. The F-region with high electron density provides the biggest contribution to TEC while the relatively weakly ionized plasma of the D-region (60 km { 90 km above Earth's surface) is often considered as a negligible cause of satellite signal disturbances. However, sudden intensive ionization processes, like those induced by solar X-ray flares, can cause relative increases of electron density that are significantly larger in the D-region than in regions at higher altitudes. Therefore, one cannot exclude a priori the D-region from investigations of ionospheric influences on propagation of electromagnetic signals emitted by satellites. We discuss here this problem which has not been sufficiently treated in literature so far. The obtained results are based on data collected from the D-region monitoring by very low frequency radio waves and on vertical TEC calculations from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal analyses, and they show noticeable variations in the D-region's electron content (TECD) during activity of a solar X-ray °are (it rises by a factor of 136 in the considered case) when TECD contribution to TEC can reach several percent and which cannot be neglected in practical applications like global positioning procedures by satellites. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III-44002, 176001, 176002, 176004 and TR36020]

We present preliminary results of the long-term spectral monitoring of two active galactic nuclei with different broad line shapes: Ark 564 and Arp 102B. Ark 564 is a bright nearby narrow-line Syfert 1 (NLS1) galaxy with relatively narrow permitted optical emission lines and a high Fe II/Hβ ratio, while Arp 102B is a nearby broad-line radio galaxy with broad double-peaked Balmer emission lines. The spectra of Ark 564 were observed during 11-year period (1999-2009) and the spectra of Arp 102B in the 12-year period (1998-2009), with SAO 6 m and 1 m telescopes (Russia) and the OAGH 2.1 m telescope (Cananea, Mexico).

We investigated the emission of active galactic nuclei dusty tori in the infrared domain, with a focus on the 10 μm silicate feature. We modeled the dusty torus as a clumpy two-phase medium with high-density clumps and a low-density medium filling the space between the clumps. We used a three-dimensional radiative transfer code to obtain spectral energy distributions and images of tori at different wavelengths. We calculated a grid of models for different parameters and analyzed the influence of these parameters on the shape of the mid-infrared emission. A corresponding set of clumps-only models and models with a smooth dust distribution is calculated for comparison. We found that the dust distribution, the optical depth and a random arrangement of clumps in the innermost region, all have an impact on the shape and strength of the silicate feature. The 10 μm silicate feature can be suppressed for some parameters, but models with smooth dust distribution are also able to produce a wide range of the silicate feature strength.

Here we consider the influence of microlensing on the spectrum of a lensed object with the angular size 5 μas accepting that the composite emission of this object originates from three different regions arranged around its center. We assume that the lensed object has three concentric regions with a black-body emission; the temperatures of these regions are 10 000 K, 7500 K and 5000 K. We investigate how the integral spectral energy distribution (SED) of such stratified source changes due to microlensing by a group of solarmass stars. We find that the SED and flux ratios in the photometric B, V and R passbands show considerable changes during a microlens event. This indicates that the flux anomaly observed in some lensed quasars may be caused by microlensing of a stratified object.

Most of the Broad Absorption Lines (BALs) in quasars show very complex profiles. An idea to explain these profiles is that the dynamical systems of broad line regions are not homogeneous but consist of a number of dense regions or ion populations with different physical parameters. This approach is used to study the ultraviolet CIV resonance lines in the spectra of a group of high ionization BAL quasars, using the Gauss-Rotation model.

In this contribution we report on the study of the optical emission lines and X-ray spectra of a sample of Type 1 AGNs, collected from the SDSS database and observed by the XMM-Newton satellite. Using different instruments onboard XMM, we identify the spectral components of the soft and hard energy bands (in the range from 0.3 keV to 10 keV). The properties of the X-ray continuum and of the Fe Kα line feature are related to the optical broad emission line profiles and intensity ratios. The resulting picture of emission, absorption and reflection processes is interpreted by means of a structural model of the broad line region, developed on the basis of independent optical and radio observations.

In this paper a discussion of kinematics and physics of the Broad Line Region (BLR) is given. The possible physical conditions in the BLR and problems in determination of the physical parameters (electron temperature and density) are considered. Moreover, one analyses the geometry of the BLR and the probability that (at least) a fraction of the radiation in the Broad Emission Lines (BELs) originates from a relativistic accretion disk.

The influence of gravitational microlensing on the X-ray spectral line profiles originated from a relativistic accretion disc has been studied. Using a disc model, we show that microlensing can induce noticeable changes in the line shapes when the Einstein ring radius associated with the microlens is of a size comparable to that of the accretion disc. Taking into account the relatively small size of the X-ray accretion disc, we found that compact objects (of about a Solar mass) which belong to the bulge of the host galaxy can produce significant changes in the X-ray line profile of AGN.

We present here the Akn 120 Hβ line profiles from 97 spectra observed from 1977 till 1990 at Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Appendix 1). The Hβ line has been fitted with three broad and one narrow Gaussian throughout the whole considered period. The central broad components of the Hβ and a shelf cause the Hβ line shape variation. Three broad Gaussians may suggest the existence of three broad line regions in the central part of the Akn 120. Long-term Hβ line shape variations in spectra of this galaxy are discussed.

In order to provide the Stark broadening data for ion lines from complex spectra, here we present calculated Stark widths and shifts for 37 Kr II lines. The calculations were performed by using the modified semiempirical approach. Also the obtained results have been compared with existing experimental and theoretical data.

The influence of merging effects in the central part of an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) on the emission spectral line shapes are discussed. We present a model of close binary Broad Line Region. The numerical experiments show that the merging effects can explain double peaked lines. The merging effects may also be present in the center of AGNs, although they emit slightly asymmetric as well as symmetric and relatively stable (in profile shape) spectral lines. Depending on the black hole masses and their orbit elements such model may explain some of the line profile shapes observed in AGNs. This work shows that if one is looking for the merging effects in the central region as well as in the wide field structure of AGNs, he should first pay attention to objects which have double peaked lines.

The gravitational field effect on atomic data for H and C IV transitions are considered as a perturbation of initial and final energy levels. We found that this perturbation increases with the principal quantum number. Here we give several expressions for estimation of this effect and its influence on atomic data parameters. Also, the calculations of atomic data for 1s − 2p (Lyα) and 2s − 3p transitions of hydrogen atom as well as atomic data for 2s2S1/2−2p2P0 1/2,3/2 transitions of C IV (1UV) as a function of deformation of energy levels due to gravitation field and gravitational redshift are given. The gravitational field effect should be estimated and should be taken into account in calculation of atomic data for emitters in Broad Line Regions (BLRs) of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).

Using the semiclassical perturbation formalism, we have calculated electron-, proton-, and ionized helium-impact line widths and shifts for six Au I lines as a function of temperature and perturber density. Electron-impact broadening parameters for eight Au II transitions have been calculated within the modified semiempirical approach.

Here we have juxtaposed two distant cosmic locations of the Sun and AGN where neutral hydrogen appears in a close connection with hot coronas. Besides the solar photosphere, chromosphere and prominences where the presence of neutral hydrogen is well established, its emission quite high in hot solar corona is still puzzling. Some of earlier observations where Hα emission in solar corona was detected in eclipse and in daily coronagraphic observations are reviewed. A proper theoretical explanation of this cold chromospheric-type emission in the hot corona does not exist yet. On the other side, a similar emission of hydrogen lines is present in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs). Much research work is currently being done in this field. We outline some of the concepts of the AGN structure prevailing in the astrophysics today.

In this paper we present the electron-impact widths for 28 transitions of singly-, doubly-, and triply- ionized vanadium estimated by using the modified semiempirical method. The electron-impact widths have been estimated for the electron density of 1023m−3 and presented as a function of electron temperature.