Accretion disk winds, continuum reverberation mapping, and variability timescale in AGN.

Most AGN are powered by thin accretion disks extending from a few gravitational radii (Rg) to several thousand Rg. A small, central X-ray corona is the likely origin of the X-ray emission, and a large-scale BLR explains the strongest observed emission lines. All components of this complex system are known to vary on short (hours to days) and intermediate (days to months) timescales. Extensive continuum reverberation mapping (RM) campaigns of a growing number of AGN have been used to explore the origin of the wavelength- and time-dependent continuum variations common to most such sources. Explanations range from disk illumination by the central variable X-ray source, line and continuum variations in the BLR, disk wind emission, and combinations of the above.