The ASCA X-ray spectrum of the powerful radio galaxy 3C109

Abstract

We report the results from an ASCA X-ray observation of the powerful Broad Line Radio Galaxy, 3C109. The ASCA spectra confirm our earlier ROSAT detection of intrinsic X-ray absorption associated with the source. The absorbing material obscures a central engine of quasar-like luminosity. The luminosity is variable, having dropped by a factor of two since the ROSAT observations 4 years before. The ASCA data also provide evidence for a broad iron emission line from the source, with an intrinsic FWHM of ~ 120,000 km/s. Interpreting the line as fluorescent emission from the inner parts of an accretion disk, we can constrain the inclination of the disk to be $>35$ degree, and the inner radius of the disk to be $<70$ Schwarzschild radii. Our results support unified schemes for active galaxies, and demonstrate a remarkable similarity between the X-ray properties of this powerful radio source, and those of lower luminosity, Seyfert 1 galaxies.

MNRAS in press. 7 pages, 5 figures in MNRAS LaTex style

References in corpus (1)

• The ASCA X-ray spectrum of the powerful radio galaxy 3C109

Cited by in corpus (11)

• An X-ray Spectral Survey of Radio-Loud AGN With ASCA
• The X-ray nuclei of intermediate-redshift radio sources
• Low radiative efficiency accretion in the nuclei of elliptical galaxies
• A Chandra study of particle acceleration in the multiple hotspots of nearby radio galaxies
• On the Origin of Broad Fe K alpha and Hi H alpha Lines in AGN
• The ASCA X-Ray Spectrum Of The Broad-Line Radio Galaxy Pictor A: A Simple Power Law With No Fe K-alpha Line
• Rosat, Asca and Osse Observations of the Broad Line Radio Galaxy 3C120
• The ASCA X-ray spectrum of the powerful radio galaxy 3C109
• Exploring the disc/jet interaction in the radio-loud quasar 4C +74.26 with Suzaku
• Broad-band X-ray observation of broad-line radio galaxy 3C 109
• Forgotten treasures in the HST/FOC UV imaging polarimetric archives of active galactic nuclei. IV. 5 Orphaned AGNs