"We present a spectral and imaging analysis of the X-ray reflecting structure at the heart of the Circinus galaxy, investigating the innermost regions surrounding the central black hole. By studying an archival 200 ks Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer-S observation, we are able to image the extended clumpy structure responsible for both cold reflection of the primary radiation and neutral iron K alpha line emission. We measure an excess of the equivalent width of the iron K alpha line which follows an axisymmetric geometry around the nucleus on a hundred pc scale. Spectra extracted from different regions confirm a scenario in which the dominant mechanism is the reflection of the nuclear radiation from Compton-thick gas. Significant differences in the equivalent width of the iron K alpha emission line (up to a factor of 2) are found. It is argued that these differences are due to different scattering angles with respect to the line of sight rather than to different iron abundances."

Marinucci, A., Miniutti, G., Bianchi, S., Matt, G., Risaliti, G. (2013). A Chandra view of the clumpy reflector at the heart of the Circinus galaxy. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 436(3), 2500-2504 [10.1093/mnras/stt1759].

A Chandra view of the clumpy reflector at the heart of the Circinus galaxy

MARINUCCI, ANDREA;BIANCHI, STEFANO;MATT, Giorgio;
2013-01-01

Abstract

"We present a spectral and imaging analysis of the X-ray reflecting structure at the heart of the Circinus galaxy, investigating the innermost regions surrounding the central black hole. By studying an archival 200 ks Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer-S observation, we are able to image the extended clumpy structure responsible for both cold reflection of the primary radiation and neutral iron K alpha line emission. We measure an excess of the equivalent width of the iron K alpha line which follows an axisymmetric geometry around the nucleus on a hundred pc scale. Spectra extracted from different regions confirm a scenario in which the dominant mechanism is the reflection of the nuclear radiation from Compton-thick gas. Significant differences in the equivalent width of the iron K alpha emission line (up to a factor of 2) are found. It is argued that these differences are due to different scattering angles with respect to the line of sight rather than to different iron abundances."
2013
Marinucci, A., Miniutti, G., Bianchi, S., Matt, G., Risaliti, G. (2013). A Chandra view of the clumpy reflector at the heart of the Circinus galaxy. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 436(3), 2500-2504 [10.1093/mnras/stt1759].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11590/267570
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