We present an analysis of XMM-Newton observations of eleven Seyfert galaxies
that appear to be missing a broad iron K alpha line. These objects represent a
challenge to the established paradigm for active galactic nuclei, where a
relatively cold accretion disc feeds the central black hole. In that paradigm,
X-ray illumination of the accretion disc should lead to continuum and
fluorescence emission from iron which is broadened and shifted by relativistic
effects close the hole. We extend the work of Nandra et al. (2007), who found
no evidence for such a component in an earlier analysis of these objects, by
testing a variety of more complex relativistic reflection models. Specifically,
we consider the possibility that the disc is highly ionised, and/or that the
the reflection is heavily blurred by strong relativistic effects in a Kerr
geometry. We find that in 8/11 of the observations with no apparent broad iron
line, the fit is significantly improved when an ionised or strongly blurred
reflector is included, and that all 11 observations allow for such a component.
The disc inclinations are found generally to be around 60 degrees, which when
combined with a steep emissivity profile results in strong relativistic
blurring of the reflection, rendering the K alpha line difficult to distinguish
from the underlying continuum. Nevertheless, relativistic reflection does
appear to be present, and the strength of the smeared reflection is similar to
that expected from a flat disc illuminated by a point source. Such blurred
reflection and the associated steep radial emissivity profiles are consistent
with the gravitational light bending of the continuum photons close to the
black hole.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
