Swift, NuStar and XMM-Newton observations of the NLS1 galaxy RX J2317.8–4422 in an extreme X-ray low flux state

Grupe, D.; Komossa, Stefanie; Gallo, Luigi; Schartel, N.; Parker, M. L.; Santos-Lleo, M.; Fabian, A. C.; Harrison, Fiona A.; Miniutti, G.

doi:10.1093/mnras/stz819

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(85 reference statements)

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“…Type 2 AGNs with changes of X-ray obscuration do not appear to recover to X-ray-unobscured states (e.g., Guainazzi 2002;Matt et al 2003;Bianchi et al 2005;Rivers et al 2011;Marchese et al 2012;Braito et al 2013;Rivers et al 2015;Marinucci et al 2016). The X-ray variability of XID 403 is reminiscent of local narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) that sometimes show strong X-ray variability due to variable partial-covering absorption (e.g., Tanaka et al 2004;Turner & Miller 2009;Miniutti et al 2012;Liu et al 2021) and/or disk reflection (e.g., Fabian et al 2004;Grupe et al 2007Grupe et al , 2008Fabian et al 2012;Parker et al 2014;Grupe et al 2019;Parker et al 2019), but unlike NLS1s, its NIR spectra (Section 2.1) and SED (Section 3.4) show no AGN signature. We explore in more detail each of the scenarios in the following subsections.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides absorption, another mechanism that is frequently invoked to explain the variable X-ray emission in NLS1s is relativistic disk reflection (e.g., Grupe et al 2008;Fabian et al 2012;Miniutti et al 2012;Parker et al 2014;Grupe et al 2019). This scenario (e.g., Ross & Fabian 2005;Fabian & Ross 2010) was proposed mainly to describe the reflected 34 Considering the substantial uncertainties associated with M BH and λ Edd , we cannot exclude the possibility that XID 403 has a moderate Eddington ratio, and then it would belong to a new type of extremely X-ray variable AGNs with unusually steep X-ray spectra.…”

Section: A High-redshift Analog Of Nls1s and Connectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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X-Ray Unveiling Events in a z ≈ 1.6 Active Galactic Nucleus in the 7 Ms Chandra Deep Field-South

Brandt

Bauer

et al. 2023

ApJ

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We investigate the extreme X-ray variability of a z = 1.608 active galactic nucleus in the 7 Ms Chandra Deep Field-South (XID 403), which showed two significant X-ray brightening events. In the first event, XID 403 brightened by a factor of >2.5 in ≲6.1 rest-frame days in the observed-frame 0.5–5 keV band. The event lasted for ≈5.0–7.3 days, and then XID 403 dimmed by a factor of >6.0 in ≲6.1 days. After ≈1.1–2.5 yr in the rest frame (including long observational gaps), it brightened again, with the 0.5–5 keV flux increasing by a factor of >12.6. The second event lasted over 251 days, and the source remained bright until the end of the 7 Ms exposure. The spectrum is a steep power law (photon index Γ = 2.8 ± 0.3) without obscuration during the second outburst, and the rest-frame 2–10 keV luminosity reaches 1.5 − 0.5 + 0.8 × 10 43 erg s − 1 ; there is no significant spectral evolution within this epoch. The infrared-to-UV spectral energy distribution of XID 403 is dominated by the host galaxy. There is no significant optical/UV variability and R-band (rest-frame ≈2500 Å) brightening contemporaneous with the X-ray brightening. The extreme X-ray variability is likely due to two X-ray unveiling events, where the line of sight to the corona is no longer shielded by high-density gas clumps in a small-scale dust-free absorber. XID 403 is probably a high-redshift analog of local narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, and the X-ray absorber is a powerful accretion disk wind. On the other hand, we cannot exclude the possibility that XID 403 is an unusual candidate for tidal disruption events.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A High-redshift Analog Of Nls1s and Connectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

X-Ray Unveiling Events in a z ≈ 1.6 Active Galactic Nucleus in the 7 Ms Chandra Deep Field-South

Brandt

Bauer

et al. 2023

ApJ

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“…Partial covering is often employed to fit NLS1s (e.g. Boller et al (2002); Tanaka et al 2005;Turner et al 2007;Gallo et al 2015;Iso et al 2016;Grupe et al 2019. For Mrk 1239, Grupe et al (2004 use two absorbing components to model a leaky absorber with the EPIC-pn spectrum.…”

Section: Partial Coveringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering the primary X-ray emission and possible starburst component in the polarized NLS1 Mrk 1239

Buhariwalla,

Waddell,

Gallo

et al. 2020

Preprint

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X-ray observations of the unique NLS1 galaxy Mrk 1239 spanning 18-years are presented. Data from XMM-Newton, Suzaku, Swift and NuSTAR are combined to obtain a broad-band, multi-epoch view of the source. There is spectral variability in the 3 − 10 keV band over the 18-years. An analysis of the NuSTAR and Suzaku light curves also suggests rapid variability in the 3 − 10 keV band, which is consistent with the NLS1 definition of the source. However, no variability is seen below 3 keV on any timescale. Two distinct physical models are adopted to describe the data above and below ∼ 3 keV. The low energies are dominated by a hot, diffuse gas likely associated with a starburst component at large physical scales. The higher energy spectrum is dominated by emission from the central region. Ionised partial covering and relativistic blurred reflection are considered for the central region emission. In both cases, the underlying power law has a photon index of Γ ∼ 2.3 − 2.4. A distant reflector, a neutral partial covering component with a covering fraction near ∼ 1, and contributions from starburst emission are always required. The blurred reflection model requires a reflection dominated spectrum, which may be at odds with the low emissivity index and radio properties of the source. By contrast, the two absorption components required in the ionised partial covering model may correspond to the two distinct regions of polarization observed in the optical. Regardless of the physical model, spectral changes between epochs are driven by the absorption components and on short time scales by intrinsic AGN variability.

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Uncovering the Primary X-Ray Emission and Possible Starburst Component in the Polarized NLS1 Mrk 1239

Buhariwalla

Waddell

Gallo

et al. 2020

ApJ

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X-ray observations of the unique NLS1 galaxy Mrk 1239 spanning 18 yr are presented. Data from XMM-Newton, Suzaku, Swift, and NuSTAR are combined to obtain a broadband, multi-epoch view of the source. There is spectral variability in the 3–10 keV band over the 18 yr. An analysis of the NuSTAR and Suzaku lightcurves also suggests rapid variability in the 3–10 keV band, which is consistent with the NLS1 definition of the source. However, no variability is seen below 3 keV on any timescale. Two distinct physical models are adopted to describe the data above and below . The low energies are dominated by a hot, diffuse gas likely associated with a starburst component at large physical scales. The higher-energy spectrum is dominated by emission from the central region. Ionized partial covering and relativistic blurred reflection are considered for the central region emission. In both cases, the underlying power law has a photon index of Γ ∼ 2.3–2.4. A distant reflector, a neutral partial covering component with a covering fraction near ∼1, and contributions from starburst emission are always required. The blurred reflection model requires a reflection-dominated spectrum, which may be at odds with the low emissivity index and radio properties of the source. By contrast, the two absorption components required in the ionized partial covering model may correspond to the two distinct regions of polarization observed in the optical. Regardless of the physical model, spectral changes between epochs are driven by the absorption components—and on short timescales, by intrinsic active galactic nucleus variability.

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Swift, NuStar and XMM-Newton observations of the NLS1 galaxy RX J2317.8–4422 in an extreme X-ray low flux state

Cited by 3 publications

References 76 publications

X-Ray Unveiling Events in a z ≈ 1.6 Active Galactic Nucleus in the 7 Ms Chandra Deep Field-South

X-Ray Unveiling Events in a z ≈ 1.6 Active Galactic Nucleus in the 7 Ms Chandra Deep Field-South

Uncovering the primary X-ray emission and possible starburst component in the polarized NLS1 Mrk 1239

Uncovering the Primary X-Ray Emission and Possible Starburst Component in the Polarized NLS1 Mrk 1239

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