We present the results of a 500 ks long XMM–Newton observation and a 120 ks long quasi‐simultaneous Chandra observation of the Narrow‐Line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0707−495 performed in 2010 September. Consistent with earlier results by Fabian et al. and Zoghbi et al., the spectrum is found to be dominated by relativistically broadened reflection features from an ionized accretion disc around a maximally rotating black hole. Even though the spectra changed between this observation and earlier XMM–Newton observations, the physical parameters of the black hole and accretion disc (i.e. spin and inclination) are consistent between both observations. We show that this reflection spectrum is slightly modified by absorption in a mildly relativistic, highly ionized outflow which changed velocity from around 0.11 c to 0.18 c between 2008 January and 2010 September. Alternative models, in which the spectral shape is dominated by absorption, lead to spectral fits of similar quality, however, the parameters inferred for the putative absorber are unphysical.

In this paper we present the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry mission. eXTP is a space science mission designed to study fundamental physics under extreme conditions of density, gravity and magnetism. The mission aims at determining the equation of state of matter at supra-nuclear density, measuring effects of QED, and understanding the dynamics of matter in strong-field gravity. In addition to investigating fundamental physics, eXTP will be a very powerful observatory for astrophysics that will provide observations of unprecedented quality on a variety of galactic and extragalactic objects. In particular, its wide field monitoring capabilities will be highly instrumental to detect the electro-magnetic counterparts of gravitational wave sources. The paper provides a detailed description of: 1) The technological and technical aspects, and the expected performance of the instruments of the scientific payload; 2) The elements and functions of the mission, from the spacecraft to the ground segment.X-ray instrumentation, X-ray Polarimetry, X-ray Timing, Space mission: eXTP PACS number(s): 95.55. Ka, 95.85.Nv, 95.75.Hi, 97.60.Jd, 97.60.Lf

Context. It is generally believed that the supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei (AGN) and stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binaries (XRBs) work in a similar way. Aims. While XRBs evolve rapidly and several sources have undergone a few complete cycles from quiescence to an outburst and back, most AGN remain in the same state over periods of years and decades, due to their longer characteristic timescale proportional to their size. However, the study of the AGN spectral states is still possible with a large sample of sources. Multi-wavelength observations are needed for this purpose since the AGN thermal disc emission dominates in the ultraviolet energy range, while the up-scattered hot-corona emission is detected in X-rays. Methods. We compared simultaneous UV and X-ray measurements of AGN obtained by the XMM-Newton satellite. The non-thermal power-law flux was constrained from the 2-12 keV X-ray luminosity, while the thermal disc component was estimated from the UV flux at ≈ 2900Å. The hardness (defined as a ratio between the X-ray and UV plus X-ray luminosity) and the total luminosity were used to construct the AGN state diagrams. For sources with reliable mass measurements, the Eddington ratio was used instead of the total luminosity. Results. The state diagrams show that the radio-loud sources have on average higher hardness, due to the lack of the thermal disc emission in the UV band, and have flatter intrinsic X-ray spectra. In contrast, the sources with high luminosity and low hardness are radio-quiet AGN with the UV spectrum consistent with the multi-temperature thermal disc emission. The hardness-Eddington ratio diagram reveals that the average radio-loudness is stronger for low-accreting sources, while it decreases when the accretion rate is close to the Eddington limit. Conclusions. Our results indicate that the general properties of AGN accretion states are similar to those of X-ray binaries. This suggests that the AGN radio dichotomy of radio-loud and radio-quiet sources can be explained by the evolution of the accretion states.

ABSTRACTeXTP is a science mission designed to study the state of matter under extreme conditions of density, gravity and magnetism. Primary goals are the determination of the equation of state of matter at supra-nuclear density, the measurement of QED effects in highly magnetized star, and the study of accretion in the strong-field regime of gravity. Primary targets include isolated and binary neutron stars, strong magnetic field systems like magnetars, and stellar-mass and supermassive black holes. The mission carries a unique and unprecedented suite of state-of-the-art scientific instruments enabling for the first time ever the simultaneous spectral-timing-polarimetry studies of cosmic sources in the energy range from 0.5-30 keV (and beyond). Key elements of the payload are: the Spectroscopic Focusing Array (SFA) -a set of 11 X-ray optics for a total effective area of ∼0.9 m 2 and 0.6 m 2 at 2 keV and 6 keV respectively, equipped with Silicon Drift Detectors offering <180 eV spectral resolution; the Large Area Detector (LAD) -a deployable set of 640 Silicon Drift Detectors, for a total effective area of ∼3.4 m 2 , between 6 and 10 keV, and spectral resolution better than 250 eV; the Polarimetry Focusing Array (PFA) -a set of 2 X-ray telescope, for a total effective area of 250 cm 2 at 2 keV, equipped with imaging gas pixel photoelectric polarimeters; the Wide Field Monitor (WFM) -a set of 3 coded mask wide field units, equipped with position-sensitive Silicon Drift Detectors, each covering a 90 degrees x 90 degrees field of view. The eXTP international consortium includes major institutions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Universities in China, as well as major institutions in several European countries and the United States. The predecessor of eXTP, the XTP mission concept, has been selected and funded as one of the so-called background missions in the Strategic Priority Space Science Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2011. The strong European participation has significantly enhanced the scientific capabilities of eXTP. The planned launch date of the mission is earlier than 2025.

Context. X-ray reflection off the accretion disc surrounding a black hole, together with the associated broad iron Kα line, has been widely used to constrain the innermost accretion-flow geometry and black hole spin. Some recent measurements have revealed steep reflection emissivity profiles in a number of active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries. Aims. We explore the physically motivated conditions that give rise to the observed steep disc-reflection emissivity profiles. Methods. We perform a set of simulations based on the configuration of a possible future high-resolution X-ray mission. Computations are carried out for typical X-ray bright Seyfert-1 galaxies. Results. We find that steep emissivity profiles with q ∼ 4−5 (where the emissivity is (r) ∝ r −q ) are produced considering either i) a lamp-post scenario where a primary compact X-ray source is located close to the black hole, or ii) the radial dependence of the disc ionisation state. If both effects are taken into account, emissivity profiles as steep as q ∼ 7 can be obtained from X-ray spectra modelled via conventional reflection models. We also highlight the role of the reflection angular emissivity: the radial emissivity index q is overestimated when the standard limb-darkening law is used to describe the data. Conclusions. Very steep emissivity profiles with q ≥ 7 are naturally obtained by applying reflection models that take into account the radial profile ξ(r) of the disc ionisation induced by a compact X-ray source located close to the central black hole.

A black hole x-ray binary (XRB) system forms when gas is stripped from a normal star and accretes onto a black hole, which heats the gas sufficiently to emit x-rays. We report a polarimetric observation of the XRB Cygnus X-1 using the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer. The electric field position angle aligns with the outflowing jet, indicating that the jet is launched from the inner x-ray emitting region. The polarization degree is 4.01 ± 0.20% at 2 to 8 kiloelectronvolts, implying that the accretion disk is viewed closer to edge-on than the binary orbit. The observations reveal that hot x-ray emitting plasma is spatially extended in a plane perpendicular to the jet axis, not parallel to the jet.

Aims. The spin of an accreting black hole can be determined by spectroscopy of the emission and absorption features produced in the inner regions of an accretion disc. In this work, we discuss the method employing the relativistic line profiles of iron in the X-ray domain, where the emergent spectrum is blurred by general relativistic effects. Methods. Precision of the spectra fitting procedure could be compromised by inappropriate accounting for the angular distribution of the disc emission. Often a unique profile is assumed, invariable over the entire range of radii in the disc and energy in the spectral band. An isotropic distribution or a particular limb-darkening law have been frequently set, although some radiation transfer computations exhibit an emission excess towards the grazing angles (i.e., the limb brightening). By assuming a rotating black hole in the centre of an accretion disc, we perform radiation transfer computations of an X-ray irradiated disc atmosphere (NOAR code) to determine the directionality of outgoing X-rays in the 2−10 keV energy band. Based on these computations, we produce a new extension to the KY software package for X-ray spectra fitting of relativistic accretion discs. Results. We study how sensitive the spin determination is to the assumptions about the intrinsic angular distribution of the emitted photons. The uncertainty of the directional emission distribution translates to 20% uncertainty in the determination of the marginally stable orbit. We implemented the simulation results as a new extension to the KY software package for X-ray spectra fitting of relativistic accretion disc models. Although the parameter space is rather complex, leading to a rich variety of possible outcomes, we find that on average the isotropic directionality reproduces our model data to the best precision. Our results also suggest that an improper use of limb darkening can partly mimic a steeper profile of radial emissivity. We demonstrate these results in the case of XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert galaxy MCG-6-30-15, for which we construct confidence levels of χ 2 statistics, and on the simulated data for the future X-ray IXO mission. Our simulations, with the tentative IXO response, show a significant improvement that can qualitatively enhance the accuracy of spin determination.

Green Peas represent a population of compact, highly star-forming dwarf galaxies at redshifts z ∼ 0.2–0.3 that have recently been found to show signatures of ultraviolet ionizing radiation leakage. They are being considered as analogs to high-redshift star-forming galaxies, possibly responsible for cosmic reionization. Despite intensive studies of Green Peas in the ultraviolet and optical domains, their X-ray properties have only so far been probed by nearby analogs. In this paper, we present the first measurements of Green Peas in the X-ray domain to constrain their spectral properties and fluxes at high energies. We analyzed XMM-Newton observations of three Green Pea sources. For two of them, we found an X-ray luminosity exceeding by a half-order of magnitude its predicted value, derived from the star formation rate and metallicity. Only an upper limit of the X-ray luminosity was derived for the third studied galaxy. Our results indicate that at least some Green Peas produce copious amounts of highly energetic photons, larger than detected in other star-forming galaxies. We discuss possible physical scenarios for the measured X-ray excess, including the presence of a hidden active galactic nucleus, a larger population of X-ray binaries, or ultra-luminous X-ray sources. Future spatially resolved X-ray images will discriminate between the models. Larger Green Pea samples will provide a possible link between the X-ray properties and the leaking ultraviolet radiation.