Variability of the emission-line spectra of active galactic nuclei is now a well-known phenomenon. This remains to be fully explained by a theoretical model of the central engine in an active galactic nucleus. Since the magnetic field lines are anchored on the accreting matter, they continuously fall on the event horizon of the central supermassive black hole and increase the net field strength of the hole magnetosphere. The field strength, however, cannot increase without an upper limit and, therefore, it will be decreased by some unknown processes. In this paper we discuss that these increasing and decreasing modes can be repeated periodically and explain the variability of power output, therefore, variability of active galactic nuclei.

• PARK SEOK JAE(Korea Astronomy Observatory)