Extreme X-ray spectral variability in the Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 1365

Details Extreme X-ray spectral variability in the Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 1365 Extreme X-ray spectral variability in the Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 1365

2005-03-16

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0503351v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

12 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

Scientific paper

We present multiple Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of the type 1.8 Seyfert Galaxy NGC 1365, which shows the most dramatic X-ray spectral changes observed so far in an AGN: the source switched from reflection dominated to transmission dominated and back in just 6 weeks. During this time the soft thermal component, arising from a ~1 kpc region around the center, remained constant. The reflection component is constant at all timescales, and its high flux relative to the primary component implies the presence of thick gas covering a large fraction of the solid angle. The presence of this gas, and the fast variability time scale, suggest that the Compton-thick to Compton thin change is due to variation in the line-of-sight absorber, rather than to extreme intrinsic emission variability. We discuss a structure of the circumnuclear absorber/reflector which can explain the observed X-ray spectral and temporal properties.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Extreme X-ray spectral variability in the Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 1365 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 Extreme X-ray spectral variability in the Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 1365, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Extreme X-ray spectral variability in the Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 1365 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-569487