V^th School of Astroparticle Physics
23 - 28 May 2016
OHP, Saint Michel l'Observatoire

Physics of the Universe in X-rays

Variability in X-ray sources

Matteo Bachetti
INAF/Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari

Course

This lecture will introduce the techniques used to characterize the variability of compact objects, both aperiodic (quasi-periodic oscillations, broad band noise) and periodic (pulsations, orbital modulations).

Outline

Why is variability important?
The Fourier Transform, its siblings, and how to use them
Aperiodic variability - characterizing the accretion flow
Pulse detection: comparison of FT, epoch folding, Z²_n test, H test
Basics of pulsar timing

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