Structure function analysis of blazars AP Librae and 3c279

Abstract

Blazars AP Librae and 3c279 are analyzed for microvariability using a technique known as structure function analysis. AP Librae was observed in April of 2005 and 3c279 was observed in April of 2007. The data for AP Librae was previously reduced by Andrew Collazzi and the author reduced the data for 3c279. Both sets of data were reduced using Robert Knop's data reduction program. The author ran structure function analysis on both sets of data. Structure function analysis is a statistical analysis run on data that is suppose to nd timescales of variability, periodicity, and the noise type of data. Previous analysis of AP Librae confirmed mircrovariability, which also shows up in the structure function of AP Librae. Blazar 3c279 was much quieter than AP Librae and showed no microvariability durning any of the nights.