Possible X-ray diagnostic for jet/disk dominance in Type 1 AGN

Abstract

Using Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Seyfert 1 and 1.2 data spanning 9 years, we study correlations between X-ray spectral features. The sample consists of 350 time-resolved spectra from 12 Seyfert 1 and 1.2 galaxies. Each spectrum is fitted to a model with an intrinsic powerlaw X-ray spectrum produced close to the central black hole that is reprocessed and absorbed by material around the black hole. To test the robustness of our results, we performed Monte Carlo simulations of the spectral sample. We find a complex relationship between the iron line equivalent width (EW) and the underlying power law index (Gamma). The data reveal a correlation between Gamma and EW which turns over at Gamma <~ 2, but finds a weak anti-correlation for steeper photon indices. We propose that this relationship is driven by dilution of a disk spectrum (which includes the narrow iron line) by a beamed jet component and, hence, could be used as a diagnostic of jet-dominance. In addition, our sample shows a strong correlation between the reflection fraction (R) and Gamma, but we find that it is likely the result of modeling degeneracies. We also see the X-ray Baldwin effect (an anti-correlation between the 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity and EW) for the sample as a whole, but not for the individual galaxies and galaxy types.

Accepted for publication in ApJ, 14 pages

References in corpus (14)

• Calibration of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array
• Correlation between Compton reflection and X-ray slope in Seyferts and X-ray binaries
• Compton reflection and iron fluorescence in BeppoSAX observations of Seyfert type 1 galaxies
• Suzaku observations of the hard X-ray variability of MCG-6-30-15: the effects of strong gravity around a Kerr black hole
• Simultaneous EUVE/ASCA/RXTE Observations of NGC 5548
• Long-Term X-ray Spectral Variability in Seyfert 1 Galaxies
• Six years of BeppoSAX observations of blazars: a spectral catalog
• An X-ray Baldwin effect for the narrow Fe K-alpha lines observed in Active Galactic Nuclei
• Variable Iron K-alpha Lines in Seyfert 1 Galaxies
• The strength and width of Fe Kalpha lines in Seyferts and their correlations with the X-ray slope
• On the X-ray Baldwin effect for narrow Fe Kalpha emission line
• Long Term Spectral Variability of Seyfert Galaxies from RXTE Color-Flux Diagrams
• RXTE observations of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 5506: evidence for reflection from disk and torus
• Rapidly variable Fe K$\alpha$ line in NGC 4051

Cited by in corpus (10)

• X-ray Spectral Properties of the BAT AGN Sample
• A Chandra survey of fluorescence Fe lines in X-ray Binaries at high resolution
• Long-term variability of AGN at hard X-rays
• The Swift BAT-detected Seyfert 1 Galaxies: X-ray Broadband Properties and Warm Absorbers
• A hard X-ray view of the soft excess in AGN
• The INTEGRAL Complete Sample of Type 1 AGN
• The broad-band XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL spectra of bright type 1 Seyfert galaxies
• The role of the Gamma-Eddington ratio relation on the X-ray Baldwin effect in Active Galactic Nuclei
• A broad-band spectral analysis of eight radio loud type 1 AGN selected in the hard X-ray band
• Correlation between relativistic reflection fraction and photon index in NuSTAR sample of Seyfert 1 AGN