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NuSTAR Spectroscopy of Multi-component X-Ray Reflection from NGC 1068

Bauer, F.E.; Arévalo, P.; Walton, D.J.; Koss, M.J.; Puccetti, S.; Gandhi, P.; Stern, D.; Alexander, D.M.; Baloković, M.; Boggs, S.E.; Brandt, W.N.; Brightman, M.; Christensen, F.E.; Comastri, A.; Craig, W.W.; Del Moro, A.; Hailey, C.J.; Harrison, F.A.; Hickox, R.; Luo, B.; Markwardt, C.B.; Marinucci, A.; Matt, G.; Rigby, J.R.; Rivers, E.; Saez, C.; Treister, E.; Urry, C.M.; Zhang, W.W.

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Authors

F.E. Bauer

P. Arévalo

D.J. Walton

M.J. Koss

S. Puccetti

P. Gandhi

D. Stern

M. Baloković

S.E. Boggs

W.N. Brandt

M. Brightman

F.E. Christensen

A. Comastri

W.W. Craig

A. Del Moro

C.J. Hailey

F.A. Harrison

R. Hickox

B. Luo

C.B. Markwardt

A. Marinucci

G. Matt

J.R. Rigby

E. Rivers

C. Saez

E. Treister

C.M. Urry

W.W. Zhang



Abstract

We report on high-energy X-ray observations of the Compton-thick Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 with NuSTAR, which provide the best constraints to date on its >10 keV spectral shape. The NuSTAR data are consistent with those from past and current instruments to within cross-calibration uncertainties, and we find no strong continuum or line variability over the past two decades, which is in line with its X-ray classification as a reflection-dominated Compton-thick active galactic nucleus. The combined NuSTAR, Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Swift BAT spectral data set offers new insights into the complex secondary emission seen instead of the completely obscured transmitted nuclear continuum. The critical combination of the high signal-to-noise NuSTAR data and the decomposition of the nuclear and extranuclear emission with Chandra allow us to break several model degeneracies and greatly aid physical interpretation. When modeled as a monolithic (i.e., a single NH) reflector, none of the common Compton reflection models are able to match the neutral fluorescence lines and broad spectral shape of the Compton reflection hump without requiring unrealistic physical parameters (e.g., large Fe overabundances, inconsistent viewing angles, or poor fits to the spatially resolved spectra). A multi-component reflector with three distinct column densities (e.g., with best-fit values of NH of 1.4 × 1023, 5.0 × 1024, and 1025 cm−2) provides a more reasonable fit to the spectral lines and Compton hump, with near-solar Fe abundances. In this model, the higher NH component provides the bulk of the flux to the Compton hump, while the lower NH component produces much of the line emission, effectively decoupling two key features of Compton reflection. We find that ≈30% of the neutral Fe Kα line flux arises from >2'' (≈140 pc) and is clearly extended, implying that a significant fraction (and perhaps most) of the <10 keV reflected component arises from regions well outside a parsec-scale torus. These results likely have ramifications for the interpretation of Compton-thick spectra from observations with poorer signal-to-noise and/or more distant objects.

Citation

Bauer, F., Arévalo, P., Walton, D., Koss, M., Puccetti, S., Gandhi, P., …Zhang, W. (2015). NuSTAR Spectroscopy of Multi-component X-Ray Reflection from NGC 1068. Astrophysical Journal, 812(2), Article 116. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/812/2/116

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Oct 14, 2015
Publication Date Oct 14, 2015
Deposit Date May 31, 2016
Publicly Available Date Jul 15, 2016
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Electronic ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 812
Issue 2
Article Number 116
DOI https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/812/2/116
Related Public URLs http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015ApJ...812..116B

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Copyright Statement
© 2015. The American Astronomical Society.





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