X-ray observations of the Compton-thick Seyfert 2 galaxy, NGC 5643

Abstract

We present results from a ~55 ks long XMM-Newton observation of the obscured AGN, NGC 5643, performed in July 2009. A previous, shorter (about 10 ks) XMM-Newton observation in February 2003 had left two major issues open, the nature of the hard X-ray emission (Compton-thin vs Compton-thick) and of the soft X-ray excess (photoionized vs collisionally ionized matter). The new observation shows that the source is Compton-thick and that the dominant contribution to the soft X-ray emission is by photoionized matter (even if it is still unclear whether collisionally ionized matter may contribute as well). We also studied three bright X-ray sources that are in the field of NGC 5643. The ULX NGC 5643 X-1 was confirmed to be very luminous, even if more than a factor 2 fainter than in 2003. We then provided the first high quality spectrum of the cluster of galaxies Abell 3602. The last source, CXOJ143244.5-442020, is likely an unobscured AGN, possibly belonging to Abell 3602.

6 pages. Accepted for publication in A&A

References in corpus (4)

• On the origin of soft X-rays in obscured AGN: answers from high-resolution spectroscopy with XMM-Newton
• The dynamical state of brightest cluster galaxies and the formation of clusters
• The Link Between the Hidden Broad Line Region and the Accretion Rate in Seyfert 2 Galaxies
• The X-ray spectral signatures from the complex circumnuclear regions in the Compton thick AGN NGC 424

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• Study of Swift/BAT Selected Low-luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei Observed with Suzaku
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• Extended X-ray Emission in Compton Thick AGN with Deep Chandra Observations
• The ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 5643 ULX1: a large stellar mass black hole accreting at super-Eddington rates?
• Chandra Detection of the Circumnuclear Molecular Torus of the Compton Thick AGN in NGC 5643
• NuSTAR and XMM-Newton observations of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 5643 X-1
• The ionised X-ray outflowing torus in ESO 323-G77: low-ionisation clumps confined by homogeneous warm absorbers
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