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November 13, 2025 preprint Open access Aachen paper

Systematic Analysis of Changing-look AGN Variability Using ZTF Light Curves

arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2511.10217 Full text (OA) OpenAlex

Abstract

Changing-look active galactic nuclei (CLAGNs) are a unique population of AGNs that exhibit the appearance (turn-on) or disappearance (turn-off) of broad emission lines. This study aims to explore the intrinsic mechanisms of CLAGNs by investigating their photometric variability using data from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), which has provided high-cadence observations over the past five years. By visual inspections, we construct a sample of 152 CLAGNs from the literature, all of which show spectral transitions and large optical variability in their ZTF light curves. By analyzing 90 of these CLAGNs and the control samples of Type 1 AGNs, Type 2 AGNs, and extremely variable quasars (EVQs), matched in redshift ($0.2

Authors 6

  1. Huimei Wang

    Peking University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy , School of Physics , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China

    Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China

  2. Xue-Bing Wu

    Peking University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy , School of Physics , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China

    Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China

  3. Bing Lyu

    Peking University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy , School of Physics , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China

    Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China

  4. Yuning Fu Aachen Leiden Observatory

    Leiden University · University of Groningen · Leiden Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    Kapteyn Astronomical Institute , University of Groningen , P.O. Box 800 , 9700 AV Groningen , The Netherlands

    Leiden Observatory , Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands

  5. Rui Zhu

    Peking University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy , School of Physics , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China

    Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China

  6. Qian Yang

    Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Astrophysics - Harvard & Smithsonian , 60 Garden Street , Cambridge , MA 02138 , USA

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