Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1998-04-24
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
15 pages, 2 Figures. Latex with separate postscript figure files. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters
Scientific paper
10.1086/311457
The colossal power output of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is believed to be fueled by the accretion of matter onto a supermassive black hole. This central accreting region of AGN has hitherto been spatially unresolved and its structure therefore unknown. Here we propose that a previously reported `deep minimum' in the X-ray intensity of the AGN MCG-6-30-15, was due to a unique X-ray occultation event and that it probes structure of the central engine on scales < 1e14 cm, or 1.4e-7 arcseconds. The data are consistent with a bright central source surrounded by a less intense ring, which we identify with the inner edge of an accretion disk. These may be the first direct measurements of the spatial structure and geometry of the accreting black-hole system in an active galaxy.If the ring of X-ray emission is identified with the inner edge of an accretion disk, upper limits on the BH mass can be derived. Our occultation interpretation is controversial in the sense that X-ray variability in AGNs is normally attributed to intrinsic physical changes in the X-ray emission region, such as disk or coronal instabilities.
McKernan Barry
Yaqoob Tahir
No associations
LandOfFree
Occultation Mapping of the Central Engine in the Active Galaxy MCG -6-30-15 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Occultation Mapping of the Central Engine in the Active Galaxy MCG -6-30-15, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Occultation Mapping of the Central Engine in the Active Galaxy MCG -6-30-15 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-125887