We report on the detection of a rapidly variable narrow Fe Kalpha line in Mkn 841. The source has been observed two times by XMM-Newton and simultaneously with BeppoSAX. The two observations, of about 10 ks long each, were separated by similar to15 hours. The line flux reaches a maximum during the first observation and is significantly reduced in the second one. The continuum shape and flux, instead, keep roughly constant between the two pointings. Such rapid variability of a narrow (unresolved by the XMM-pn instrument) line has never been reported in the past. These results are not easily explained in the standard cold reflection model where the narrow line component is supposed to be produced far from the primary X-ray source (e.g. from the torus) and is thus not expected to vary rapidly. Different interpretations are discussed.
Petrucci, P.o., Henri, G., Maraschi, L., Ferrando, P., Matt, G., Mouchet, M., et al. (2002). A rapidly variable narrow X-ray iron line in Mkn 841. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, 388(1), L5-L8 [10.1051/0004-6361:20020534].
A rapidly variable narrow X-ray iron line in Mkn 841
MATT, Giorgio;
2002-01-01
Abstract
We report on the detection of a rapidly variable narrow Fe Kalpha line in Mkn 841. The source has been observed two times by XMM-Newton and simultaneously with BeppoSAX. The two observations, of about 10 ks long each, were separated by similar to15 hours. The line flux reaches a maximum during the first observation and is significantly reduced in the second one. The continuum shape and flux, instead, keep roughly constant between the two pointings. Such rapid variability of a narrow (unresolved by the XMM-pn instrument) line has never been reported in the past. These results are not easily explained in the standard cold reflection model where the narrow line component is supposed to be produced far from the primary X-ray source (e.g. from the torus) and is thus not expected to vary rapidly. Different interpretations are discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
