816 research outputs found
BeppoSAX observations of Seyfert 1s in the Piccinotti sample I: poorly studied sources
In this work we present the first of two papers devoted to the study of the
X-ray spectral characteristics of Seyfert 1 galaxies in the Piccinotti sample.
In particular we analyse here the BeppoSAX broad band (0.1-100 keV) data of 4
objects which, despite their X-ray brightness, have been historically poorly
studied due to their late identification with an AGN; these are H0111-149
(MKN1152), H0235-525 (ESO198-G24), H0557-385 (IRAS F05563-3820) and H1846-786
(IRAS F18389-7834). We have assumed for all the sources a baseline model which
includes a power law with an exponential cut-off plus a reflection component
and an iron K_alpha line; we have also searched for the presence of intrinsic
absorption and/or a soft excess component. Our analysis indicates the presence
of complex absorption in two objects (H0557-385 and H0111-149) best described
by a combination of two uniform absorbers, one cold and one warm. Only in one
source, H0557-385, a soft excess component has been measured. The primary
continuum is best described by a canonical power law (Gamma=1.7-2) with a high
energy cut-off in the range 40-130 keV. A cold reflection component is likely
present in all sources with values ranging from less than 0.6 to higher than 2.
In 3 out of 4 objects we find a cold iron line having equivalent width typical
of Seyfert 1s (100-200 eV).Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication as a Research Note in
Astronomy and Astrophysic
IRAS 13197-1627 has them all: Compton-thin absorption, photo-ionized gas, thermal plasmas, and a broad Fe line
We report results from the XMM-Newton observation of IRAS 13197-1627, a
luminous IR galaxy with a Seyfert 1.8 nucleus. The hard X-ray spectrum is steep
and is absorbed by Compton-thin neutral gas. We detect an Fe emission line at
6.4 keV, consistent with transmission through the absorber. The most striking
result of our spectral analysis is the detection of a dominant X-ray reflection
component and broad Fe line from the inner accretion disc. The
reflection-dominated hard X-ray spectrum is confirmed by the strong Compton
hump seen in a previous BeppoSAX observation and could be the sign that most of
the primary X-rays are radiated from a compact corona (or e.g. base of the jet)
within a few gravitational radii from the black hole. We also detect a
relatively strong absorption line at 6.81 keV which, if interpreted as Fe xxv
resonant absorption intrinsic to the source, implies an outflow with velocity
of about 5000 km/s. In the soft energy band, the high-resolution RGS and the
CCD-resolution data show the presence of both photo-ionized gas and thermal
plasma emission, the latter being most likely associated with a recent
starburst of 15-20 solar masses per year.Comment: accepted for publication in MNRA
Relativistic Jets from X-ray binaries
In this review I summarise the status of observational research into
relativistic jets from X-ray binaries, highlighting four areas in particular:
(i) How relativistic are the jets ?, (ii) The disc : jet coupling, (iii) the
nature of the underlying flat spectral component, and (iv) the relation between
jets from black holes and those from neutron stars. I have attempted to discuss
the extent of our (limited) physical understanding, and to point the way
towards relevant new observational tests of the various phenomena.Comment: Review article, to be published in `Astrophysics and Cosmology : A
collection of critical thoughts', Springer Lecture Notes in Physic
The X-ray spectra of Compton-thick Seyfert 2 galaxies as seen by BeppoSAX
Results from BeppoSAX observations of Compton--thick Seyfert 2 galaxies are
summarized and reviewed, and their general properties derived and discussed. In
five out of the seven observed sources, the nucleus is directly visible at high
X-ray energies, where the photons penetrate absorbers with column densities in
the range 1.1-4.3x10^{24} cm-2 (in the other two sources, NGC 1068 and NGC
7674, the nucleus is instead totally obscured at all energies, implying even
larger column densities). In most sources there is unambiguous evidence of a
reflection component from optically thick, cold matter, while in two (or maybe
four) cases there is also evidence of reflection from ionized matter. For the
sources with a measured X-ray luminosity, a comparison with the infrared
luminosity is made; while in two cases (the Circinus galaxy and NGC 4945) the
IR emission appears to be dominated by starburst activity, in the other three
sources (NGC 6240, Mrk 3 and TOL 0109-383) it is likely to be dominated by
reprocessing of the UV and X-ray photons emitted by an AGN.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
- …